The effects of beta‐cypermethrin, chlorbenzuron, chlorothalonil, and pendimethalin onApis mellifera ligusticaandApis cerana ceranalarvae rearedin vitro

Abstract

BACKGROUND Declines in bee populations and diversity have drawn international attention. The long‐term use of chemical pesticides has affected bee behavior and physiology. This study aimed to investigate the effects of chronic exposure to four commonly used chemical pesticides (beta‐cypermethrin, chlorbenzuron, chlorothalonil and pendimethalin) on the growth of Apis mellifera ligustica and Apis cerana cerana larvae reared in vitro. RESULTS Pesticide type and concentration were the main factors affecting honeybee fitness. Beta‐cypermethrin and chlorbenzuron had chronic toxic effects on bee larvae. They reduced the fitness of A. m. ligustica and A. c. cerana even at low doses of 323.5 ng g−1 for beta‐cypermethrin and 62.6 ng g−1 for chlorbenzuron in bee bread. The effects were positively associated with the dietary amounts of pesticides. By contrast, chlorothalonil and pendimethalin exposure did not affect bee larvae despite changes in enzyme activities. Caution is still needed with chlorothalonil, which led to a decrease in harvest adult bee numbers at a high dose (6937.2 ng g−1). Furthermore, a difference in pesticide resistance was observed, suggesting that A. m. ligustica may tolerate toxic effects better than A. c. cerana. CONCLUSION This study sheds new light on chronic toxicity in bee larvae exposed to residues in bee bread. The results could guide the scientific and rational use of chemical pesticides to reduce the potential risks to A. m. ligustica and A. c. cerana. © 2021 Society of Chemical Industry.

Visitation of Apis mellifera L. in Runner Bean (Phaseolus coccineus L.) and Its Exposure to Seasonal Agrochemicals in Agroecosystems

“…Residues of this herbicide were also detected in wax, pollen and bee samples from North America and Germany [85][86][87]. According to He et al [88], exposure to pendimethalin had no significant effect on the development of honeybee larvae; however, its detection in honeybees and hive products seems to pose a risk to honeybees. We also detected DDT derivatives (residues of p,p' DDT) in samples of dead honeybees.…”

Physiological Responses of the Firefly Pyrocoelia analis (Coleoptera: Lampyridae) to an Environmental Residue From Chemical Pesticide Imidacloprid

“…The impacts of pesticides on insect fitness have been extensively studied, and some pesticides reduced the fitness of bee larvae of both Apis mellifera and Apis cerana ( He et al, 2022 ). Even sublethal imidacloprid can affect foraging and colony fitness in Monomorium antarcticum and Linepithema humile ( Barbieri et al, 2013 ).…”

Dinitroaniline herbicides: a comprehensive review of toxicity and side effects on animal non-target organisms

“…1 , Tables 3 and 4 ), such as the root-knot nematodes exposed to recommended field doses of pendimethalin (3 µL cm −2 ) (Das et al 1998 ; Dopierala and Giebel 2002 ). In contrast, it had no significant effects on larval survival and pupation and eclosion rates of Apis mellifera ligustica and A. cerana cerana at doses of 7.0 ng g −1 and 15.5 ng g −1 (He et al 2022 ). Laboratory tests have shown that pendimethalin at field concentrations has no effect on soil invertebrates (Belden et al 2005 ), including larvae of the green lacewing Chrysoperla carnea (Maia et al 2016 ).…”