Is acetamiprid really not that harmful to bumblebees (Apidae: Bombus spp.)?

Abstract

Due to recent changes in regulation, acetamiprid has become the only neonicotinoid that can be applied without restrictions and in open field cultivations in the EU from 2021. We provide an overview of the current knowledge on the effects of this insecticide on bumblebees and assessed whether available empirical evidence supports the claim that acetamiprid poses negligible risk to these pollinators. We found that there is limited data on the lethal and sublethal effects of this pesticide on bumblebees. While risk assessment results suggest that field-realistic concentrations of acetamiprid have minor acute and chronic toxicity, detrimental sublethal effects, including reduced reproductive output, have been observed when bumblebees were exposed to high doses of this insecticide. We propose that further research on the topic is warranted as the more extensive application of acetamiprid may lead to such high concentrations in the field.

Plant growers' environmental consciousness may not be enough to mitigate pollinator declines: a questionnaire‐based case study in Hungary

“…Indeed, despite scientific advice calling for the banning of all neonicotinoids, 70 this study showed that most respondents already experience the effects of the current ban on neonicotinoids and heavily depend on the use of acetamiprid, which is currently the only neonicotinoid freely available in the EU. This may lead to a higher demand for acetamiprid‐containing insecticides among plant growers in the coming years 71 . Acetamiprid, like all neonicotinoids, can persist in the tissues of treated plants 45 and its half‐life can reach 450 days in soil 72 inducing sublethal effects in beneficial organisms, 71 such as pollinators.…”

Plant growers’ environmental consciousness may not be enough to mitigate pollinator declines: a questionnaire-based case study in Hungary

“…Indeed, despite scientific advice calling for the banning of all neonicotinoids (Goulson and 232 Signatories 2018), this study showed that most respondents already experience the effects of the present ban on neonicotinoids and that they heavily depend on the use of acetamiprid, which is currently the only one freely available in the EU. This may lead to a higher demand for acetamiprid-containing insecticides among plant growers in the coming years (Varga-Szilay and Tóth 2022). Acetamiprid, like all neonicotinoids, can persist in the tissues of treated plants (Lentola et al 2017) and its half-life can reach 450 days in soil (Goulson 2013) inducing sublethal effects in beneficial organisms (Varga-Szilay and Tóth 2022), such as pollinators.…”

“…This may lead to a higher demand for acetamiprid-containing insecticides among plant growers in the coming years (Varga-Szilay and Tóth 2022). Acetamiprid, like all neonicotinoids, can persist in the tissues of treated plants (Lentola et al 2017) and its half-life can reach 450 days in soil (Goulson 2013) inducing sublethal effects in beneficial organisms (Varga-Szilay and Tóth 2022), such as pollinators. On top of this, we also found that many of those plant growers who used acetamiprid-containing pesticides co-applied them in combination with other agrochemicals.…”

“…Indeed, despite scientific advice calling for the banning of all neonicotinoids 70 , this study showed that most respondents already experience the effects of the present ban on neonicotinoids and that they heavily depend on the use of acetamiprid, which is currently the only one freely available in the EU. This may lead to a higher demand for acetamiprid-containing insecticides among plant growers in the coming years 71 .…”

“…Acetamiprid, like all neonicotinoids, can persist in the tissues of treated plants 45 and its half-life can reach 450 days in soil 72 inducing sublethal effects in beneficial organisms 71 , such as pollinators. On top of this, we also found that many of those plant growers who used acetamiprid-containing pesticides co-applied them in combination with other agrochemicals.…”