Safety of methionine, a novel biopesticide, to adult and larval honey bees (Apis mellifera L.)

Methionine as a safe and effective novel biorational mosquito larvicide

“…Methionine has been found to be non‐toxic to several organisms including a predator, the pink spotted ladybeetle, C. maculata , a beneficial biological control agent, the water hyacinth weevil, N. eichhorniae , and the greenbug parasitoid, L. testaceipes . Furthermore, methionine was found to be ‘practically nontoxic’, according to U.S. EPA classifications (EPA 2017a), to adult and larval honeybees, A. mellifera L …”

Methionine as an Effective Mosquito Larvicide in Natural Water Sources

“…Black flies and cranes flies have an alkaline gut pH of 11.4 and 11.6, respectively, so they likely would be affected by DL-methionine toxicity (Undeen 1979;Martin et al 1980). Conversely, non-target effects from methionine exposure are unlikely to occur in those insects that do not possess this gut pH level (Long 2004;Weeks et al 2018b). For example, methionine was reported to be "practically nontoxic" to the western honey bee (Apis mellifera L.; Hymenoptera: Apidae) (Weeks et al 2018b), which is believed to have an acidic gut pH.…”

“…Conversely, non-target effects from methionine exposure are unlikely to occur in those insects that do not possess this gut pH level (Long 2004;Weeks et al 2018b). For example, methionine was reported to be "practically nontoxic" to the western honey bee (Apis mellifera L.; Hymenoptera: Apidae) (Weeks et al 2018b), which is believed to have an acidic gut pH. Moreover, aquatic insects with a neutral gut pH such as stone flies, caddis flies, and chironomids, probably would be unaffected (Martin et al 1981a, b;Frouz et al 2007).…”

The effects of beta‐cypermethrin, chlorbenzuron, chlorothalonil, and pendimethalin on Apis mellifera ligustica and Apis cerana cerana larvae reared in vitro

“…11 However, pesticide residues have been found in all bee products, including pollen, wax, honey and bee bread (the food source for larvae). 12,13 Thus, bee larvae are at high risk from the pesticidecontaminated environment because of direct exposure or oral intake, leading to direct larval death [14][15][16] and impaired survival and development. 17 Such effects would weaken the structure of the honeybee colony over time.…”