Effects of clothianidin on Bombus impatiens (Hymenoptera: Apidae) colony health and foraging ability.
We conducted laboratory experiments to investigate the lethal and sublethal effects of clothianidin on bumble bee, Bombus impatiens Cresson, colony health and foraging ability. Bumble bee colonies were exposed to 6 ppb clothianidin, representing the highest residue levels found in field studies on pollen, and a higher dose of 36 ppb clothianidin in pollen. Clothianidin did not effect pollen consumption, newly emerged worker weights, amount of brood or the number of workers, males, and queens at either dose. The foraging ability of worker bees tested on an artificial array of complex flowers also did not differ among treatments. These results suggest that clothianidin residues found in seed-treated canola and possibly other crops will not adversely affect the health of bumble bee colonies or the foraging ability of workers.
Franklin
Michelle T
MT
Department of Biological Sciences, Simon Fraser University, Burnaby, British Columbia, Canada V5A 1S6.
Winston
Mark L
ML
Morandin
Lora A
LA
D000818:Animals; D001516:Bees / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology*; D001522:Behavior, Animal / Q000187:drug effects; D006146:Guanidines / Q000494:pharmacology*; D007306:Insecticides / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000073943:Neonicotinoids; D010573:Pesticide Residues / Q000032:analysis; D011058:Pollen / Q000737:chemistry; D013844:Thiazoles
D006146:Guanidines; D007306:Insecticides; D000073943:Neonicotinoids; D010573:Pesticide Residues; D013844:Thiazoles; C480342:clothianidin