Honey Bees' Behavior Is Impaired by Chronic Exposure to the Neonicotinoid Thiacloprid in the Field.
The decline of pollinators worldwide is of growing concern and has been related to the use of plant-protecting chemicals. Most studies have focused on three neonicotinoid insecticides (clothianidin, imidacloprid, and thiamethoxam) currently subject to a moratorium in the EU. Here, we focus on thiacloprid, a widely used cyano-substituted neonicotinoid thought to be less toxic to honey bees and of which use has increased in the last years. Honey bees (Apis mellifera carnica) were exposed chronically to thiacloprid in the field for several weeks at a sublethal concentration. Foraging behavior, homing success, navigation performance, and social communication were impaired, and thiacloprid residue levels increased both in the foragers and the nest mates over time. The effects observed in the field were not due to a repellent taste of the substance. For the first time, we present the necessary data for the risk evaluation of thiacloprid taken up chronically by honey bees in field conditions.
Free University Berlin , Institute for Biology-Neurobiology, D-14195 Berlin, Germany.
Léa
L
Tison
Free University Berlin , Institute for Biology-Neurobiology, D-14195 Berlin, Germany.
Marie-Luise
ML
Hahn
Free University Berlin , Institute for Biology-Neurobiology, D-14195 Berlin, Germany.
Sophie
S
Holtz
Free University Berlin , Institute for Biology-Neurobiology, D-14195 Berlin, Germany.
Alexander
A
Rößner
Free University Berlin , Institute for Biology-Neurobiology, D-14195 Berlin, Germany.
Uwe
U
Greggers
Julius Kühn-Institut , Institute for Bee Protection, D-14195 Berlin, Germany.
Gabriela
G
Bischoff
Free University Berlin , Institute for Biology-Neurobiology, D-14195 Berlin, Germany.
Randolf
R
Menzel
D000818:Animals; D001516:Bees; D001522:Behavior, Animal / Q000187:drug effects; D007306:Insecticides / Q000633:toxicity*
D007306:Insecticides