Long-term dynamics of honey bee colonies following exposure to chemical stress

Colin, Théotime; Meikle, William G.; Paten, Amy M.; Barron, Andrew B.

doi:10.1016/j.scitotenv.2019.04.402

Cited by 42 publications

(45 citation statements)

References 67 publications

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“…However, our F2 temperature results suggest that effects of neonicotinoids on individual bees may not scale up to cause colony-level dysfunction. The lack of a treatment effect on temperature regulation in our study contrasts with Colin et al (2019) [33], who demonstrated that colonies chronically exposed to 5 ng/g of the neonicotinoid imidacloprid through sugar syrup had higher average overwinter in-hive temperatures and decreased colony temperature variability, and Meikle et al (2017) [34] who observed that a history of commercial pollination activity and agrochemical exposure was associated with lower overwinter internal colony temperatures and increased colony temperature variability. These inconsistent results regarding the effect of pesticide exposure on colony temperature regulation may be explained by variation in overwintering climate and beekeeping practices.…”

Section: Effects Of Thiamethoxam On Overwintering Colonies Of Apis Mecontrasting

confidence: 99%

“…These inconsistent results regarding the effect of pesticide exposure on colony temperature regulation may be explained by variation in overwintering climate and beekeeping practices. [33] were unable to repeat the results of their Tuscon study in an identical trial conducted in Sydney, Australia, underscoring the geographic variation in colony temperature control in response to pesticide exposure.…”

Section: Effects Of Thiamethoxam On Overwintering Colonies Of Apis Mementioning

confidence: 97%

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Chronic High-Dose Neonicotinoid Exposure Decreases Overwinter Survival of Apis mellifera L.

Wood

Kozii

Mattos

et al. 2019

Insects

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Overwinter colony mortality is an ongoing challenge for North American beekeepers. During winter, honey bee colonies rely on stored honey and beebread, which is frequently contaminated with the neonicotinoid insecticides clothianidin and thiamethoxam. To determine whether neonicotinoid exposure affects overwinter survival of Apis mellifera L., we chronically exposed overwintering field colonies and winter workers in the laboratory to thiamethoxam or clothianidin at different concentrations and monitored survival and feed consumption. We also investigated the sublethal effects of chronic thiamethoxam exposure on colony pathogen load, queen quality, and colony temperature regulation. Under field conditions, high doses of thiamethoxam significantly increased overwinter mortality compared to controls, with field-realistic doses of thiamethoxam showing no significant effect on colony overwinter survival. Under laboratory conditions, chronic neonicotinoid exposure significantly decreased survival of winter workers relative to negative control at all doses tested. Chronic high-dose thiamethoxam exposure was not shown to impact pathogen load or queen quality, and field-realistic concentrations of thiamethoxam did not affect colony temperature homeostasis. Taken together, these results demonstrate that chronic environmental neonicotinoid exposure significantly decreases survival of winter workers in the laboratory, but only chronic high-dose thiamethoxam significantly decreases overwinter survival of colonies in the field.

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Section: Effects Of Thiamethoxam On Overwintering Colonies Of Apis Mecontrasting

confidence: 99%

Section: Effects Of Thiamethoxam On Overwintering Colonies Of Apis Mementioning

confidence: 97%

Chronic High-Dose Neonicotinoid Exposure Decreases Overwinter Survival of Apis mellifera L.

Wood

Kozii

Mattos

et al. 2019

Insects

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“…Imidacloprid, perhaps the most heavily used neonicotinoid, has been shown to affect brood production, queen replacement, foraging activity and winter survivorship when applied at sublethal concentrations in pollen diet 14 . When applied at a 5-ppb concentration in sugar syrup, imidacloprid has been found to affect honey bee colony thermoregulation and adult bee maturation 18 – 20 , and has significantly affected bumble bee colony behavior and thermoregulation 21 .…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Sublethal concentrations of clothianidin affect honey bee colony growth and hive CO2 concentration

Meikle

Adamczyk²,

Weiss

et al. 2021

Sci Rep

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The effects of agricultural pesticide exposure upon honey bee colonies is of increasing interest to beekeepers and researchers, and the impact of neonicotinoid pesticides in particular has come under intense scrutiny. To explore potential colony-level effects of a neonicotinoid pesticide at field-relevant concentrations, honey bee colonies were fed 5- and 20-ppb concentrations of clothianidin in sugar syrup while control colonies were fed unadulterated syrup. Two experiments were conducted in successive years at the same site in southern Arizona, and one in the high rainfall environment of Mississippi. Across all three experiments, adult bee masses were about 21% lower among colonies fed 20-ppb clothianidin than the untreated control group, but no effects of treatment on brood production were observed. Average daily hive weight losses per day in the 5-ppb clothianidin colonies were about 39% lower post-treatment than in the 20-ppb clothianidin colonies, indicating lower consumption and/or better foraging, but the dry weights of newly-emerged adult bees were on average 6–7% lower in the 5-ppb group compared to the other groups, suggesting a nutritional problem in the 5-ppb group. Internal hive CO2 concentration was higher on average in colonies fed 20-ppb clothianidin, which could have resulted from greater CO2 production and/or reduced ventilating activity. Hive temperature average and daily variability were not affected by clothianidin exposure but did differ significantly among trials. Clothianidin was found to be, like imidacloprid, highly stable in honey in the hive environment over several months.

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“…In North America imidacloprid has been shown to negatively affect brood production, queen replacement, foraging activity, winter survivorship, social immunity, and increase Varroa densities, when applied at sublethal concentrations 8,15 , and to positively affect ight activity and colony thermoregulation 16 . In Australia honey bees exposed to 5 ppb imidacloprid were found to forage at a younger age but to accumulate less food on the long term 17,18 . Additional effects that have been reported include: increased water consumption 11 , decreased foraging performance 19 , higher bee cluster temperatures 20 and reduced learning performance when mixed with another pesticide 21 .…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Traces of a neonicotinoid pesticide stimulates activity in honey bee colonies, but not productivity

Meikle

Colin

Adamczyk

et al. 2021

Preprint

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How neonicotinoid contamination effects honey bees remains controversial. Studies have yielded contradictory results, and few have examined effects on colony development. Here we report the results of a comprehensive five-year study of the effects of the neonicotinoid imidacloprid on honey bee colonies. Colonies fed 5 ng/g (ppb) imidacloprid showed increased brood production, lower temperature variability, higher CO2 production and had more foragers compared to control colonies. Even so, treatment did not affect adult bee numbers or average hive temperatures, and did not increase food stores, daily food acquisition or colony survivorship. Imidacloprid contamination increased colony metabolism without improving colony productivity, which is consistent with the pharmacological action of imidacloprid as a stimulant. Our findings explain why some studies have reported no, or even positive, effects of neonicotinoids. We provide an explanation for the diverse effects of pesticide contamination on honey bees, and a thorough understanding of how colonies are impacted.

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Long-term dynamics of honey bee colonies following exposure to chemical stress

Cited by 42 publications

References 67 publications

Chronic High-Dose Neonicotinoid Exposure Decreases Overwinter Survival of Apis mellifera L.

Chronic High-Dose Neonicotinoid Exposure Decreases Overwinter Survival of Apis mellifera L.

Sublethal concentrations of clothianidin affect honey bee colony growth and hive CO2 concentration

Traces of a neonicotinoid pesticide stimulates activity in honey bee colonies, but not productivity

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