Sublethal acetamiprid doses negatively affect the lifespans and foraging behaviors of honey bee (Apis mellifera L.) workers

The neonicotinoid insecticide acetamiprid is applied widely for pest control in agriculture production. However, little is known about the effects of acetamiprid on the foraging behavior of nontarget pollinators. This study aims to investigate effects of sublethal acetamiprid doses on lifespans and...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:The Science of the total environment 2020-10, Vol.738, p.139924-139924, Article 139924
Main Authors: Shi, Jingliang, Yang, Heyan, Yu, Longtao, Liao, Chunhua, Liu, Yao, Jin, Mengjie, Yan, Weiyu, Wu, Xiao Bo
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Foraging behavior
Honey bee
Neonicotinoid insecticide
Radio frequency identification
Survival
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Summary:The neonicotinoid insecticide acetamiprid is applied widely for pest control in agriculture production. However, little is known about the effects of acetamiprid on the foraging behavior of nontarget pollinators. This study aims to investigate effects of sublethal acetamiprid doses on lifespans and foraging behaviors of honey bees (Apis mellifera L.) under natural swarm conditions. Newly emerged worker bees of each treatment received a drop of 1.5 μL acetamiprid solution (containing 0, 0.5, 1, and 2 μg/bee acetamiprid, diluted by water) on the thorax respectively. Bees from 2-day-old to deadline were monitored on foraging behaviors involving the age of bee for first foraging flights, rotating day-off status and the number of foraging flights using the radio frequency identification (RFID) system. We found that acetamiprid at 2 μg/bee significantly reduced the lifespan, induced precocious foraging activity, influenced the rotating day-off status and decreased foraging flights of worker bees. The abnormal behaviors of worker bees may be associated with a decline in lifespan. This work may provide a new perspective into the neonicotinoids that accelerate the colony failure. [Display omitted] •Worker bees exposed to 2 μg/bee acetamiprid induced precocious foraging activity and shortened the lifespan.•Worker bees exposed to 2 μg/bee acetamiprid heavily decreased the workload throughout their lifetime.•Excessive day-off rotation of worker bees exposed to 2 μg/bee acetamiprid is firstly reported.
ISSN:0048-9697
1879-1026
DOI:10.1016/j.scitotenv.2020.139924