Are honeybees suitable surrogates for use in pesticide risk assessment for non‐Apisbees?

Abstract

Historically, bee regulatory risk assessment for pesticides has centred on the European honeybee (Apis mellifera), primarily due to its availability and adaptability to laboratory conditions. Recently, there have been efforts to develop a battery of laboratory toxicity tests for a range of non‐Apis bee species to directly assess the risk to them. However, it is not clear whether the substantial investment associated with the development and implementation of such routine screening will actually improve the level of protection of non‐Apis bees. We argue, using published acute toxicity data from a range of bee species and standard regulatory exposure scenarios, that current first‐tier honeybee acute risk assessment schemes utilised by regulatory authorities are protective of other bee species and further tests should be conducted only in cases of concern. We propose similar analysis of alternative exposure scenarios (chronic and developmental) once reliable data for non‐Apis bees are available to expand our approach to these scenarios. In addition, we propose that in silico (simulation) approaches can then be used to address population‐level effects in more field‐realistic scenarios. Such an approach could lead to a protective, but also workable, risk assessment for non‐Apis species while contributing to pollination security in agricultural landscapes around the globe. © 2019 Society of Chemical Industry

Extrapolating acute bee sensitivity to insecticides using a phylogenetically informed interspecies scaling framework

“…When taken together these results support the previous suggestion that A. mellifera is sensitive [11] and consequently a sensible option [12] to use as standard surrogate test species for contact scenarios during the risk assessment process.…”

“…There have been two approaches to improve overall sensitivity characterization for non Apis bees: 1. Develop new model test species (e g. Bombus terrestris and Osmia bicornis) for lower tier screening or 2) better characterize the relative sensitivity of A. mellifera in relation to other bees and develop and appropriately conservative risk assessment based on the honeybee [11][12][13].…”

“…mellifera and Bombus terrestris) little is known about the response of the majority of bees to insecticides to date. As A. mellifera is currently used as the main surrogate species for non-Apis bees risk assessment around the globe, this lack of comparative sensitivity data generates uncertainty regarding the protectiveness of this approach [11][12][13].…”

2019 – A year of continued growth

“…Wesseler discussed the economic cost of regulation of pest management tools and how the cost could be reduced without increasing risk. The subject of bee pollinator risk assessment options was covered in a perspective . A topic of growing importance, the effects of climate change on pesticide efficacy, was critiqued …”

“…The subject of bee pollinator risk assessment options was covered in a perspective. 30 A topic of growing importance, the effects of climate change on pesticide efficacy, was critiqued. 31 By volume, herbicides are the most used pesticides and much effort has gone into finding herbicide alternatives.…”