title: Effects of sublethal concentrations of bifenthrin and deltamethrin on fecundity, growth, and development of the honeybee Apis mellifera ligustica.
abstract: Bifenthrin and deltamethrin have been widely used as pesticides in agriculture and forestry and are becoming an increasing risk to honeybees. The honeybee, Apis mellifera ligustica, is widely recognized as a beneficial insect of agronomic, ecological, and scientific importance. It is important to understand what effects these chemicals have on bees. Effects of two pesticides at sublethal concentrations on fecundity, growth, and development of honeybees were examined with the feeding method for a three-year period (2006-2008). It was shown that both bifenthrin and deltamethrin significantly reduced bee fecundity, decreased the rate at which bees develop to adulthood, and increased their immature periods. The toxicity of bifenthrin and deltamethrin on workers of Apis mellifera ligustica was also assessed, and the results from the present study showed that the median lethal effects of bifenthrin and deltamethrin were 16.7 and 62.8 mg/L, respectively.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Apicultural Research, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Science, Beijing, China.
authors.forename: Ping-Li
authors.initials: PL
authors.lastname: Dai
authors.forename: Qiang
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Ji-Hu
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Sun
authors.forename: Feng
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: Xing
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Yan-Yan
authors.initials: YY
authors.lastname: Wu
authors.forename: Ting
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Zhou
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001516:Bees / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology; D007306:Insecticides / Q000633:toxicity*; D007928:Lethal Dose 50; D009570:Nitriles / Q000633:toxicity*; D011722:Pyrethrins / Q000633:toxicity*; D012098:Reproduction / Q000187:drug effects; D018675:Toxicity Tests
chemical_list: D007306:Insecticides; D009570:Nitriles; D011722:Pyrethrins; C017180:decamethrin; C099952:bifenthrin