Methoxyfenozide has minimal effects on replacement queens but may negatively affect sperm storage

Honey bees are incidentally exposed to pesticides such as the insect growth regulator methoxyfenozide (MEOF) during crop pollination, exposures that extend into the hive via contaminated stored food. We examined the sublethal effects of MEOF-contaminated pollen and queen cell wax on replacement quee...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Apidologie 2022, Vol.53 (3), Article 33
Main Authors: Carroll, Mark J., Corby-Harris, Vanessa, Brown, Nicholas, Snyder, Lucy, Reitz, Dylan C.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Biomedical and Life Sciences
Body mass
Colonies
Contamination
Entomology
Exposure
Fatty acids
Food contamination
Growth regulators
Insects
Life Sciences
Life span
Original Article
Ovaries
Pesticides
Pollen
Pollination
Queen pheromone
Queens
Sperm
Sublethal effects
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Summary:Honey bees are incidentally exposed to pesticides such as the insect growth regulator methoxyfenozide (MEOF) during crop pollination, exposures that extend into the hive via contaminated stored food. We examined the sublethal effects of MEOF-contaminated pollen and queen cell wax on replacement queen development. MEOF-exposed colonies were largely able to produce replacement queens of similar physiological and reproductive quality as unexposed colonies. Newly established queens did not differ in their body mass, ovariole development, or protein and fatty acid contents in their ovaries and fat bodies. MEOF and control queens had similar glandular contents of queen mandibular pheromone (QMP) and queen retinue pheromone (QRP) compounds. However, MEOF queens stored less sperm in their spermathecae than control queens. Given that queen productivity is ultimately limited by sperm availability, MEOF contamination might shorten the functional lifespan of exposed queens.
ISSN:0044-8435
1297-9678
DOI:10.1007/s13592-022-00940-7