Bees prefer foods containing neonicotinoid pesticides

Kessler, Sébastien; Tiedeken, Erin Jo; Simcock, Kerry L.; Derveau, Sophie; Mitchell, Jennifer; Softley, Samantha; Stout, Jane C.; Wright, Geraldine A.

doi:10.1038/nature14414

Cited by 357 publications

(325 citation statements)

References 41 publications

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“…On the other hand, it is noted that the reduced collection rate suggests that clothianidin exposure caused some toxic effects on bumblebees, making them either collect or feed less on pesticide-spiked sugar water. Neither honeybees nor bumblebees are thought to be able to detect neonicotinoids, including clothianidin, in food [47], thus, this effect on sugar collection rate is probably due to toxic effects rather than repellency. It is also noted that the age of bumblebees was not controlled, which could potentially explain some of the differences in sensitivity between the species [47].…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Chronic neonicotinoid pesticide exposure and parasite stress differentially affects learning in honeybees and bumblebees

Piiroinen¹,

Goulson²

2016

Proc. R. Soc. B.

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Learning and memory are crucial functions which enable insect pollinators to efficiently locate and extract floral rewards. Exposure to pesticides or infection by parasites may cause subtle but ecologically important changes in cognitive functions of pollinators. The potential interactive effects of these stressors on learning and memory have not yet been explored. Furthermore, sensitivity to stressors may differ between species, but few studies have compared responses in different species. Here, we show that chronic exposure to fieldrealistic levels of the neonicotinoid clothianidin impaired olfactory learning acquisition in honeybees, leading to potential impacts on colony fitness, but not in bumblebees. Infection by the microsporidian parasite Nosema ceranae slightly impaired learning in honeybees, but no interactive effects were observed. Nosema did not infect bumblebees (3% infection success). Nevertheless, Nosema-treated bumblebees had a slightly lower rate of learning than controls, but faster learning in combination with neonicotinoid exposure. This highlights the potential for complex interactive effects of stressors on learning. Our results underline that one cannot readily extrapolate findings from one bee species to others. This has important implications for regulatory risk assessments which generally use honeybees as a model for all bees.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Chronic neonicotinoid pesticide exposure and parasite stress differentially affects learning in honeybees and bumblebees

Piiroinen¹,

Goulson²

2016

Proc. R. Soc. B.

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“…Bees are facing global declines owing to myriad factors, including reduced availability of high-quality forage [10][11][12]. Furthermore, modern agricultural practices, such as irrigation and pesticide use, have been demonstrated to alter the nutritional composition of floral nectar and pollen, and subsequently influence bee preferences and visitation rates [54][55][56][57]. Understanding the dietary preferences of solitary bees, as well as the factors that influence these preferences, is thus a critical first step in any conservation or management plan for wild bees.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Support for the reproductive ground plan hypothesis in a solitary bee: links between sucrose response and reproductive status

Kapheim

Johnson

2017

Proc. R. Soc. B.

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In social bees, foraging behaviour is correlated with reproductive status and sucrose sensitivity via endocrine pathways. This association led to the hypothesis that division of labour in social insect societies is derived from an ancestral ground plan that functions to synchronize dietary preferences with reproductive needs in solitary insects. However, the relationship between these traits is unknown for solitary bees, which represent the ancestral state of social bees. We used the proboscis extension response assay to measure sucrose response among reproductive females of the solitary alkali bee ( Nomia melanderi ) as a function of acute juvenile hormone (JH) treatments and reproductive physiology. We also tested long-term effects of JH on reproductive development in newly emerged females. JH did not have short-term effects on reproductive physiology or sucrose response, but did have significant long-term effects on ovary and Dufour's gland development. Dufour's gland size, not ovary development, was a significant predictor of sucrose response. This provides support for the reproductive ground plan hypothesis, because the Dufour's gland has conserved reproductive functions in bees. Differing results from this study and honeybees suggest independent origins of division of labour may have evolved via co-option of different components of a conserved ground plan.

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“…Their results showed an interaction between physiological stressed caused by Varroa and imidacloprid, with imidacloprid possibly affecting the body mass of bees and lower body mass causing decreased flight capacity. An interesting finding is that of Kessler et al (2015). Their data generated by choice assays (sucrose laced with imidacloprid or thiamethoxam versus plain sucrose) suggest that bees prefer solutions with imidacloprid and thiamethoxam.…”

Section: Experimental (In Vitro) Studiesmentioning

confidence: 99%

An update of the Worldwide Integrated Assessment (WIA) on systemic insecticides. Part 2: impacts on organisms and ecosystems

Pisa

Goulson

Yang

et al. 2017

Environ Sci Pollut Res

176

139

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New information on the lethal and sublethal effects of neonicotinoids and fipronil on organisms is presented in this review, complementing the previous Worldwide Integrated Assessment (WIA) in 2015. The high toxicity of these systemic insecticides to invertebrates has been confirmed and expanded to include more species and compounds. Most of the recent research has focused on bees and the sublethal and ecological impacts these insecticides have on pollinators. Toxic effects on other invertebrate taxa also covered predatory and parasitoid natural enemies and aquatic arthropods. Little new information has been gathered on soil organisms. The impact on marine and coastal ecosystems is still largely uncharted. The chronic lethality of neonicotinoids to insects and crustaceans, and the strengthened evidence that these chemicals also impair the immune system and reproduction, highlights the dangers of this particular insecticidal class (neonicotinoids and fipronil), with the potential to greatly decrease populations of arthropods in both terrestrial and aquatic environments. Sublethal effects on fish, reptiles, frogs, birds, and mammals are also reported, showing a better understanding of the mechanisms of toxicity of these insecticides in vertebrates and their deleterious impacts on growth, reproduction, and neurobehaviour of most of the species tested. This review concludes with a summary of impacts on the ecosystem services and functioning, particularly on pollination, soil biota, and aquatic invertebrate communities, thus reinforcing the previous WIA conclusions .

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Bees prefer foods containing neonicotinoid pesticides

Cited by 357 publications

References 41 publications

Chronic neonicotinoid pesticide exposure and parasite stress differentially affects learning in honeybees and bumblebees

Chronic neonicotinoid pesticide exposure and parasite stress differentially affects learning in honeybees and bumblebees

Support for the reproductive ground plan hypothesis in a solitary bee: links between sucrose response and reproductive status

An update of the Worldwide Integrated Assessment (WIA) on systemic insecticides. Part 2: impacts on organisms and ecosystems

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