1
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Chen J, Liu YJ, Wang Q, Zhang L, Yang S, Feng WJ, Shi M, Gao J, Dai PL, Wu YY. Multiple stresses induced by chronic exposure to flupyradifurone affect honey bee physiological states. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2024; 935:173418. [PMID: 38788938 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2024.173418] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/19/2024] [Revised: 05/16/2024] [Accepted: 05/19/2024] [Indexed: 05/26/2024]
Abstract
Flupyradifurone (FPF) has been reported to have a potential risk to terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems. In the present study, the effects of chronic FPF exposure on bees were systematically investigated at the individual behavioral, tissue, cell, enzyme activity, and the gene expression levels. Chronic exposure (14 d) to FPF led to reduced survival (12 mg/L), body weight gain (4 and 12 mg/L), and food utilization efficiency (4 and 12 mg/L). Additionally, FPF exposure (12 mg/L) impaired sucrose sensitivity and memory of bees. Morphological analysis revealed significant cellular and subcellular changes in brain neurons and midgut epithelial cells, including mitochondrial damage, nuclear disintegration, and apoptosis. FPF exposure (4 and 12 mg/L) led to oxidative stress, as evidenced by increased lipid peroxidation and alterations in antioxidant enzyme activity. Notably, gene expression analysis indicated significant dysregulation of apoptosis, immune, detoxification, sucrose responsiveness and memory-related genes, suggesting the involvement of different pathways in FPF-induced toxicity. The multiple stresses and potential mechanisms described here provide a basis for determining the intrinsic toxicity of FPF.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jin Chen
- State Key Laboratory of Resource Insects, Institute of Apicultural Research, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing 100093, China
| | - Yong-Jun Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Resource Insects, Institute of Apicultural Research, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing 100093, China
| | - Qiang Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Resource Insects, Institute of Apicultural Research, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing 100093, China
| | - Li Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Resource Insects, Institute of Apicultural Research, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing 100093, China
| | - Sa Yang
- State Key Laboratory of Resource Insects, Institute of Apicultural Research, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing 100093, China
| | - Wang-Jiang Feng
- State Key Laboratory of Resource Insects, Institute of Apicultural Research, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing 100093, China
| | - Min Shi
- Development Center of Plant Germplasm Resources, College of Life Sciences, Shanghai Normal University, Shanghai 201418, China
| | - Jing Gao
- State Key Laboratory of Resource Insects, Institute of Apicultural Research, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing 100093, China.
| | - Ping-Li Dai
- State Key Laboratory of Resource Insects, Institute of Apicultural Research, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing 100093, China.
| | - Yan-Yan Wu
- State Key Laboratory of Resource Insects, Institute of Apicultural Research, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing 100093, China.
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2
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Di Noi A, Caliani I, D'Agostino A, Cai G, Romi M, Campani T, Ferrante F, Baracchi D, Casini S. Assessing the effects of a commercial fungicide and an herbicide, alone and in combination, on Apis mellifera: Insights from biomarkers and cognitive analysis. CHEMOSPHERE 2024; 359:142307. [PMID: 38734252 DOI: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2024.142307] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/15/2023] [Revised: 02/20/2024] [Accepted: 05/09/2024] [Indexed: 05/13/2024]
Abstract
Agrochemicals play a vital role in protecting crops and enhancing agricultural production by reducing threats from pests, pathogens and weeds. The toxicological status of honey bees can be influenced by a number of factors, including pesticides. While extensive research has focused on the lethal and sublethal effects of insecticides on individual bees and colonies, it is important to recognise that fungicides and herbicides can also affect bees' health. Unfortunately, in the field, honey bees are exposed to mixtures of compounds rather than single substances. This study aimed to evaluate the effects of a commercial fungicide and a commercial herbicide, both individually and in combination, on honey bees. Mortality assays, biomarkers and learning and memory tests were performed, and the results were integrated to assess the toxicological status of honey bees. Neurotoxicity (acetylcholinesterase and carboxylesterase activities), detoxification and metabolic processes (glutathione S-transferase and alkaline phosphatase activities), immune system function (lysozyme activity and haemocytes count) and genotoxicity biomarkers (Nuclear Abnormalities assay) were assessed. The fungicide Sakura® was found to activate detoxification enzymes and affect alkaline phosphatase activity. The herbicide Elegant 2FD and the combination of both pesticides showed neurotoxic effects and induced detoxification processes. Exposure to the herbicide/fungicide mixture impaired learning and memory in honey bees. This study represents a significant advance in understanding the toxicological effects of commonly used commercial pesticides in agriculture and contributes to the development of effective strategies to mitigate their adverse effects on non-target insects.
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Affiliation(s)
- Agata Di Noi
- Department of Life Sciences, University of Siena, Via Mattioli, 4, Siena, 53100, Italy
| | - Ilaria Caliani
- Department of Physical, Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of Siena, Via Mattioli, 4, Siena, 53100, Italy.
| | - Antonella D'Agostino
- Department of Economics and Statistics, University of Siena, Piazza S. Francesco 7, 53100 Siena, Italy
| | - Giampiero Cai
- Department of Life Sciences, University of Siena, Via Mattioli, 4, Siena, 53100, Italy
| | - Marco Romi
- Department of Life Sciences, University of Siena, Via Mattioli, 4, Siena, 53100, Italy
| | - Tommaso Campani
- Department of Physical, Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of Siena, Via Mattioli, 4, Siena, 53100, Italy
| | - Federico Ferrante
- Department of Ecological and Biological Science, Tuscia University, Largo dell'Università s.n.c., 01100 6, Viterbo, Italy
| | - David Baracchi
- Department of Biology, University of Florence, Via Madonna del Piano, 6, Sesto Fiorentino, 50019, Italy
| | - Silvia Casini
- Department of Physical, Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of Siena, Via Mattioli, 4, Siena, 53100, Italy
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3
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Ferrante F, Pasquini E, Cappa F, Bellocchio L, Baracchi D. Unravelling the microplastic menace: Different polymers additively increase bee vulnerability. ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION (BARKING, ESSEX : 1987) 2024; 352:124087. [PMID: 38703977 DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2024.124087] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/10/2024] [Revised: 04/08/2024] [Accepted: 04/29/2024] [Indexed: 05/06/2024]
Abstract
Microplastics (MPs) are growing and ubiquitous environmental pollutants and represent one of the greatest contemporary challenges caused by human activities. Current research has predominantly examined the singular toxicological effects of individual polymers, neglecting the prevailing reality of organisms confronted with complex contaminant mixtures and potential synergistic effects. To fill this research gap, we investigated the lethal and sublethal effects of two common MPs, polystyrene (PS - 4.8-5.8 μm) and poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA - 1-40 μm), and their combination (MIX), on the pollinating insect Apis mellifera. For each treatment, we evaluated the oral toxicity of two ecologically relevant and one higher concentration (0.5, 5 and 50 mg/L) and analysed their effects on the immune system and worker survival. As immune activation can alter the cuticular hydrocarbon profile of honey bees, we used gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) to investigate whether MPs lead to changes in the chemical profile of foragers and behavioural assay to test whether such changes affect behavioural patterns of social recognition, undermining overall colony integrity. The results indicate an additive negative effect of PS and PMMA on bee survival and immune response, even at ecologically relevant concentrations. Furthermore, alterations in cuticle profiles were observed with both MPs at the highest and intermediate concentrations, with PMMA being mainly responsible. Both MPs exposure resulted in a reduction in the abundance of several cuticular compounds. Hive entry guards did not show increased inspection or aggressive behaviour towards exposed foragers, allowing them to enter the colony without being treated differently from uncontaminated foragers. These findings raise concerns not only for the health of individual bees, but also for the entire colony, which could be at risk if contaminated nestmates enter the colony undetected, allowing MPs to spread throughout the hive.
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Affiliation(s)
- Federico Ferrante
- Department of Biology, University of Florence, Via Madonna del Piano, 6, Sesto Fiorentino, 50019, Italy; Department of Ecological and Biological Sciences, University of Viterbo, Largo dell'Università, 01100, Viterbo, Italy
| | - Elisa Pasquini
- Department of Biology, University of Florence, Via Madonna del Piano, 6, Sesto Fiorentino, 50019, Italy; Center for Mind/Brain Science (CIMeC), University of Trento, Rovereto, Italy
| | - Federico Cappa
- Department of Biology, University of Florence, Via Madonna del Piano, 6, Sesto Fiorentino, 50019, Italy
| | - Lorenzo Bellocchio
- Department of Biology, University of Florence, Via Madonna del Piano, 6, Sesto Fiorentino, 50019, Italy
| | - David Baracchi
- Department of Biology, University of Florence, Via Madonna del Piano, 6, Sesto Fiorentino, 50019, Italy.
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4
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Cappa F, De Fazi L, Baracchi D, Cervo R. Adverse effects of the fungal biopesticide Beauveria bassiana on a predatory social wasp. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2024; 908:168202. [PMID: 37914122 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2023.168202] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/09/2023] [Revised: 10/27/2023] [Accepted: 10/27/2023] [Indexed: 11/03/2023]
Abstract
Biopesticides are considered eco-friendly alternatives to synthetic agrochemicals. However, their impact on non-target organisms is still poorly understood. Social wasps, in particular, are a largely neglected group when it comes to risk assessment of plant protection products, despite the relevant ecological and economic services provided by these insects. In the present study, we evaluated the impact of a common biopesticide, the entomopathogenic fungus Beauveria bassiana, on the paper wasp Polistes dominula. We adopted a holistic approach in ecotoxicology by focusing not only on the detrimental effects on isolated individuals, but also on the whole colony. Both adult wasps belonging to different castes and immature larvae were topically exposed to a field-realistic concentration of fungal spores from the commercial strain of B. bassiana ATCC 74040 to assess the impact of the biopesticide on their survival, behavior and physiology. Our results showed that the fungus causes a number of adverse effects on P. dominula, that include increased mortality, altered locomotion and feeding rate, selective ejection of exposed larvae from nests, reduced oviposition rate and ovary development in foundresses, and colony failure. Our findings provide new insights on the often-neglected sublethal effects of pollutants that can jeopardize not only individual beneficial insects, but also the delicate social balance of their colonies and their valuable ecosystem services, highlighting that the natural origin of plant-protection products does not always guarantee environmental safety.
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Affiliation(s)
- Federico Cappa
- Dipartimento di Biologia, Università degli Studi di Firenze, Via Madonna del Piano, 6, 50019 Sesto Fiorentino, Italy.
| | - Livia De Fazi
- Dipartimento di Biologia, Università degli Studi di Firenze, Via Madonna del Piano, 6, 50019 Sesto Fiorentino, Italy
| | - David Baracchi
- Dipartimento di Biologia, Università degli Studi di Firenze, Via Madonna del Piano, 6, 50019 Sesto Fiorentino, Italy
| | - Rita Cervo
- Dipartimento di Biologia, Università degli Studi di Firenze, Via Madonna del Piano, 6, 50019 Sesto Fiorentino, Italy
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5
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de Souza AR, Prato A, Franca W, Santos S, Lima LD, Alves DA, Bernardes RC, Santos EF, do Nascimento FS, Lima MAP. A predatory social wasp does not avoid nestmates contaminated with a fungal biopesticide. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND POLLUTION RESEARCH INTERNATIONAL 2023; 30:103851-103861. [PMID: 37695481 DOI: 10.1007/s11356-023-29770-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/03/2023] [Accepted: 09/04/2023] [Indexed: 09/12/2023]
Abstract
Fungus-based biopesticides have been used worldwide for crop pest control as a safer alternative to chemical pesticides such as neonicotinoids. Both agrochemicals can be lethal and may also trigger side effects on the behavioral traits of non-target social insects, which play a crucial role in providing essential biological pest control services in agroecosystems. Here, we evaluated whether a commercial formulation of the entomopathogenic fungus Beauveria bassiana or the neonicotinoid imidacloprid causes mortality in foragers of Mischocyttarus metathoracicus. These social wasps are natural enemies of caterpillars and other herbivorous insects and inhabit both urban and agricultural environments in Brazil. We also tested whether wasps discriminate between biopesticide-exposed and unexposed conspecifics. Through a combination of laboratory (survival assay) and field experiments (lure presentation), along with chemical analyses (cuticular hydrocarbon profiles), we showed that topic exposure to the label rate of each pesticide causes a lethal effect, with the biopesticide exhibiting a slower effect. Moreover, wasps do not discriminate biopesticide-exposed from unexposed conspecifics, likely because of the similarity of their cuticular chemical profiles 24 h after exposure. Overall, the delayed lethal time at the individual level, combined with the indistinctive chemical cues of exposure and the lack of discrimination by conspecifics suggests that the fungal biopesticide may ultimately pose a threat to the colony survival of this predatory wasp.
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Affiliation(s)
- André Rodrigues de Souza
- Department of Biology, Faculdade de Filosofia, Ciências E Letras de Ribeirão Preto, University of São Paulo, Av Bandeirantes 2900, Ribeirão Preto, SP, 14040-901, Brazil.
| | - Amanda Prato
- Department of Biology, Faculdade de Filosofia, Ciências E Letras de Ribeirão Preto, University of São Paulo, Av Bandeirantes 2900, Ribeirão Preto, SP, 14040-901, Brazil
| | - Wilson Franca
- Department of Biology, Faculdade de Filosofia, Ciências E Letras de Ribeirão Preto, University of São Paulo, Av Bandeirantes 2900, Ribeirão Preto, SP, 14040-901, Brazil
| | - Sircio Santos
- Department of Biology, Faculdade de Filosofia, Ciências E Letras de Ribeirão Preto, University of São Paulo, Av Bandeirantes 2900, Ribeirão Preto, SP, 14040-901, Brazil
| | - Luan Dias Lima
- Department of Biology, Faculdade de Filosofia, Ciências E Letras de Ribeirão Preto, University of São Paulo, Av Bandeirantes 2900, Ribeirão Preto, SP, 14040-901, Brazil
| | - Denise Araujo Alves
- Department of Entomology and Acarology, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
| | | | - Eduardo Fernando Santos
- Department of Zoology E Botany, Sao Paulo State University "Júlio de Mesquita Filho", São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Fábio Santos do Nascimento
- Department of Biology, Faculdade de Filosofia, Ciências E Letras de Ribeirão Preto, University of São Paulo, Av Bandeirantes 2900, Ribeirão Preto, SP, 14040-901, Brazil
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6
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Leite MOG, Alves DA, Lecocq A, Malaquias JB, Delalibera I, Jensen AB. Laboratory Risk Assessment of Three Entomopathogenic Fungi Used for Pest Control toward Social Bee Pollinators. Microorganisms 2022; 10:microorganisms10091800. [PMID: 36144402 PMCID: PMC9501116 DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms10091800] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/20/2022] [Revised: 08/28/2022] [Accepted: 08/30/2022] [Indexed: 11/22/2022] Open
Abstract
The use of fungal-based biopesticides to reduce pest damage and protect crop quality is often considered a low-risk control strategy. Nevertheless, risk assessment of mycopesticides is still needed since pests and beneficial insects, such as pollinators, co-exist in the same agroecosystem where mass use of this strategy occurs. In this context, we evaluated the effect of five concentrations of three commercial entomopathogenic fungi, Beauveria bassiana, Metarhizium anisopliae, and Cordyceps fumosorosea, by direct contact and ingestion, on the tropical stingless bees Scaptotrigona depilis and Tetragonisca angustula, temperate bee species, the honey bee Apis mellifera, and the bumble bee Bombus terrestris, at the individual level. Furthermore, we studied the potential of two infection routes, either by direct contact or ingestion. In general, all three fungi caused considerable mortalities in the four bee species, which differed in their response to the different fungal species. Scaptotrigona depilis and B. terrestris were more susceptible to B. bassiana than the other fungi when exposed topically, and B. terrestris and A. mellifera were more susceptible to M. anisopliae when exposed orally. Interestingly, increased positive concentration responses were not observed for all fungal species and application methods. For example, B. terrestris mortalities were similar at the lowest and highest fungal concentrations for both exposure methods. This study demonstrates that under laboratory conditions, the three fungal species can potentially reduce the survival of social bees at the individual level. However, further colony and field studies are needed to elucidate the susceptibility of these fungi towards social bees to fully assess the ecological risks.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mariana O. G. Leite
- Department of Entomology and Acarology, “Luiz de Queiroz” College of Agriculture, University of São Paulo, Avenida Pádua Dias 11, Piracicaba 13418-900, SP, Brazil
- Department of Plant and Environmental Science, University of Copenhagen, Thorvaldsensvej 40, 1871 Frederiksberg, Denmark
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +55-19-34478883
| | - Denise A. Alves
- Department of Entomology and Acarology, “Luiz de Queiroz” College of Agriculture, University of São Paulo, Avenida Pádua Dias 11, Piracicaba 13418-900, SP, Brazil
| | - Antoine Lecocq
- Department of Plant and Environmental Science, University of Copenhagen, Thorvaldsensvej 40, 1871 Frederiksberg, Denmark
| | - José Bruno Malaquias
- Department of Biostatistics, Institute of Biosciences, São Paulo State University, Rua Prof. Dr. Antônio Celso Wagner Zanin 250, Botucatu 18618-689, SP, Brazil
| | - Italo Delalibera
- Department of Entomology and Acarology, “Luiz de Queiroz” College of Agriculture, University of São Paulo, Avenida Pádua Dias 11, Piracicaba 13418-900, SP, Brazil
| | - Annette B. Jensen
- Department of Plant and Environmental Science, University of Copenhagen, Thorvaldsensvej 40, 1871 Frederiksberg, Denmark
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7
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Balzani P, Galeotti G, Scheggi S, Masoni A, Santini G, Baracchi D. Acute and chronic ingestion of polyethylene (PE) microplastics has mild effects on honey bee health and cognition. ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION (BARKING, ESSEX : 1987) 2022; 305:119318. [PMID: 35447255 DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2022.119318] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/31/2021] [Revised: 04/11/2022] [Accepted: 04/14/2022] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
The massive use of plastic has contributed to huge quantities of hazardous refuse at a global scale and represents one of the most prominent issues of the Anthropocene. Microplastics (MPs) have been detected in almost all environments and pose a potential threat to a variety of plant and animal species. Many studies have reported a variety of effects, from negligible to detrimental, of MPs to aquatic organisms. Conversely, much less is known about their effect on terrestrial biota, and particularly on animal behavior and cognition. We assessed the oral toxicity of polyethylene (PE) MPs at three different concentrations (0.5, 5, and 50 mg L-1), and at different timescales (1 day and 7 days of exposure) and tested for their effects on survival, food intake, sucrose responsiveness, habituation to sucrose and appetitive olfactory learning and memory in the honey bee Apis mellifera. We found that workers were not completely unaffected by acute and prolonged ingestion of this polymer. A significant effect of PE on bee mortality was found for the highest concentration but not for lower ones. PE affected feeding behavior in a concentration-dependent manner, with bees consuming more food than controls when exposed to low concentration PE. Regarding our behavioral and cognitive experiments, the high concentration PE was found to affect only bees' ability to respond consistently to sucrose but not sucrose sensitivity, habituation to sucrose or learning and memory abilities, even for prolonged exposure to PE. While these last results may look somewhat encouraging, we discussed why caution is warranted before ruling out the possibility that PE particles at environmental concentrations are harmful to honey bees.
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Affiliation(s)
- Paride Balzani
- Dipartimento di Biologia, Università delgi Studi di Firenze, Via Madonna del Piano, 6, 50019, Sesto Fiorentino, Italy; South Bohemian Research Center of Aquaculture and Biodiversity of Hydrocenoses, Faculty of Fisheries and Protection of Waters, University of South Bohemia in České Budějovice, Zátiší 728/II, 389 25, Vodňany, Czech Republic
| | - Giorgia Galeotti
- Dipartimento di Biologia, Università delgi Studi di Firenze, Via Madonna del Piano, 6, 50019, Sesto Fiorentino, Italy
| | - Sara Scheggi
- Dipartimento di Biologia, Università delgi Studi di Firenze, Via Madonna del Piano, 6, 50019, Sesto Fiorentino, Italy
| | - Alberto Masoni
- Dipartimento di Biologia, Università delgi Studi di Firenze, Via Madonna del Piano, 6, 50019, Sesto Fiorentino, Italy
| | - Giacomo Santini
- Dipartimento di Biologia, Università delgi Studi di Firenze, Via Madonna del Piano, 6, 50019, Sesto Fiorentino, Italy
| | - David Baracchi
- Dipartimento di Biologia, Università delgi Studi di Firenze, Via Madonna del Piano, 6, 50019, Sesto Fiorentino, Italy.
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8
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Erler S, Eckert JH, Steinert M, Alkassab AT. Impact of microorganisms and entomopathogenic nematodes used for plant protection on solitary and social bee pollinators: Host range, specificity, pathogenicity, toxicity, and effects of experimental parameters. ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION (BARKING, ESSEX : 1987) 2022; 302:119051. [PMID: 35219794 DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2022.119051] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/02/2021] [Revised: 02/18/2022] [Accepted: 02/21/2022] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
Pollinating bees are stressed by highly variable environmental conditions, malnutrition, parasites and pathogens, but may also by getting in contact with microorganisms or entomopathogenic nematodes that are used to control plant pests and diseases. While foraging for water, food, or nest material social as well as solitary bees have direct contact or even consume the plant protection product with its active substance (e.g., viruses, bacteria, fungi, etc.). Here, we summarize the results of cage, microcolony, observation hive assays, semi-field and field studies using full-size queen-right colonies. By now, some species and subspecies of the Western and Eastern honey bee (Apis mellifera, A. cerana), few species of bumble bees, very few stingless bee species and only a single species of leafcutter bees have been studied as non-target host organisms. Survival and reproduction are the major criteria that have been evaluated. Especially sublethal effects on the bees' physiology, immune response and metabolisms will be targets of future investigations. By studying infectivity and pathogenic mechanisms, individual strains of the microorganism and impact on different bee species are future challenges, especially under field conditions. Overall, it became evident that honey bees, bumble bees and few stingless bee species may not be suitable surrogate species to make general conclusions for biological mechanisms of bee-microorganism interactions of other social bee species. Solitary bees have been studied on leafcutter bees (Megachile rotundata) only, which shows that this huge group of bees (∼20,000 species worldwide) is right at the beginning to get an insight into the interaction of wild pollinators and microbial plant protection organisms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Silvio Erler
- Institute for Bee Protection, Julius Kühn Institute (JKI) - Federal Research Centre for Cultivated Plants, Messeweg 11-12, 38104, Braunschweig, Germany.
| | - Jakob H Eckert
- Institute for Bee Protection, Julius Kühn Institute (JKI) - Federal Research Centre for Cultivated Plants, Messeweg 11-12, 38104, Braunschweig, Germany; Institute of Microbiology, Technische Universität Braunschweig, Spielmannstraße 7, 38106, Braunschweig, Germany
| | - Michael Steinert
- Institute of Microbiology, Technische Universität Braunschweig, Spielmannstraße 7, 38106, Braunschweig, Germany
| | - Abdulrahim T Alkassab
- Institute for Bee Protection, Julius Kühn Institute (JKI) - Federal Research Centre for Cultivated Plants, Messeweg 11-12, 38104, Braunschweig, Germany
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9
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Almeida FCR, Magalhães DM, Favaris AP, Rodríguez J, Azevedo KEX, Bento JMS, Alves DA. Side effects of a fungus-based biopesticide on stingless bee guarding behaviour. CHEMOSPHERE 2022; 287:132147. [PMID: 34492415 DOI: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2021.132147] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/17/2021] [Revised: 08/31/2021] [Accepted: 09/01/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
Pathogenic fungi have been used worldwide to control crop pests and are assumed to pose negligible threats to the survival of pollinators. Although eusocial stingless bees provide essential pollination services and might be exposed to these biopesticides in tropical agroecosystems, there is a substantial knowledge gap regarding the side effects of fungal pathogens on behavioural traits that are crucial for colony functioning, such as guarding behaviour. Here, we evaluated the effect of Beauveria bassiana on the sophisticated kin recognition system of Tetragonisca angustula, a bee with morphologically specialized entrance guards. By combining behavioural assays and chemical analyses, we show that guards detect pathogen-exposed nestmates, preventing them from accessing nests. Furthermore, cuticular profiles of pathogen-exposed foragers contained significantly lower amounts of linear alkanes than the unexposed ones. Such chemical cues associated with fungal conidia may potentially trigger aggression towards pathogen-exposed bees, preventing pathogen spread into and among colonies. This is the first demonstration that this highly abundant native bee seems to respond in a much more adaptive way to a potentially infectious threat, outweighing the costs of losing foraging workforce when reducing the chances of fungal pathogen outbreaks within their colonies, than honeybees do.
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Affiliation(s)
- Felipe Chagas Rocha Almeida
- Laboratory of Chemical Ecology and Insect Behaviour, Department of Entomology and Acarology, Luiz de Queiroz College of Agriculture, University of São Paulo, Piracicaba, Brazil
| | - Diego Martins Magalhães
- Laboratory of Chemical Ecology and Insect Behaviour, Department of Entomology and Acarology, Luiz de Queiroz College of Agriculture, University of São Paulo, Piracicaba, Brazil
| | - Arodí Prado Favaris
- Laboratory of Chemical Ecology and Insect Behaviour, Department of Entomology and Acarology, Luiz de Queiroz College of Agriculture, University of São Paulo, Piracicaba, Brazil
| | - Jonathan Rodríguez
- Laboratory of Pathology and Microbial Control, Department of Entomology and Acarology, Luiz de Queiroz College of Agriculture, University of São Paulo, Piracicaba, Brazil
| | - Kamila Emmanuella Xavier Azevedo
- Laboratory of Chemical Ecology and Insect Behaviour, Department of Entomology and Acarology, Luiz de Queiroz College of Agriculture, University of São Paulo, Piracicaba, Brazil
| | - José Maurício Simões Bento
- Laboratory of Chemical Ecology and Insect Behaviour, Department of Entomology and Acarology, Luiz de Queiroz College of Agriculture, University of São Paulo, Piracicaba, Brazil
| | - Denise Araujo Alves
- Laboratory of Chemical Ecology and Insect Behaviour, Department of Entomology and Acarology, Luiz de Queiroz College of Agriculture, University of São Paulo, Piracicaba, Brazil.
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10
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Guo Y, Diao QY, Dai PL, Wang Q, Hou CS, Liu YJ, Zhang L, Luo QH, Wu YY, Gao J. The Effects of Exposure to Flupyradifurone on Survival, Development, and Foraging Activity of Honey Bees ( Apis mellifera L.) under Field Conditions. INSECTS 2021; 12:357. [PMID: 33923512 PMCID: PMC8074100 DOI: 10.3390/insects12040357] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/19/2021] [Revised: 04/10/2021] [Accepted: 04/13/2021] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
Abstract
Flupyradifurone (FPF) is a novel systemic nAChR agonist that interferes with signal transduction in the central nervous system of sucking pests. Despite claims that FPF is potentially "bee-safe" by risk assessments, laboratory data have suggested that FPF has multiple sub-lethal effects on individual honey bees. Our study aimed to expand the studies to the effects of field-realistic concentration of FPF. We found a statistically significant decrease in the survival rate of honey bees exposed to FPF, whereas there were no significantly negative effects on larvae development durations nor foraging activity. In addition, we found that the exposed foragers showed significantly higher expression of ApidNT, CYP9Q2, CYP9Q3, and AmInR-2 compared to the CK group (control group), but no alteration in the gene expression was observed in larvae. The exposed newly emerged bees showed significantly higher expression of Defensin and ApidNT. These results indicate that the chronic exposure to the field-realistic concentration of FPF has negligible effects, but more important synergistic and behavioral effects that can affect colony fitness should be explored in the future, considering the wide use of FPF on crops pollinated and visited by honey bees.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yi Guo
- Key Laboratory of Pollinating Insect Biology, Institute of Apicultural Research, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Ministry of Agriculture, Beijing 100093, China; (Y.G.); (Q.-Y.D.); (P.-L.D.); (Q.W.); (C.-S.H.); (Y.-J.L.); (L.Z.)
| | - Qing-Yun Diao
- Key Laboratory of Pollinating Insect Biology, Institute of Apicultural Research, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Ministry of Agriculture, Beijing 100093, China; (Y.G.); (Q.-Y.D.); (P.-L.D.); (Q.W.); (C.-S.H.); (Y.-J.L.); (L.Z.)
| | - Ping-Li Dai
- Key Laboratory of Pollinating Insect Biology, Institute of Apicultural Research, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Ministry of Agriculture, Beijing 100093, China; (Y.G.); (Q.-Y.D.); (P.-L.D.); (Q.W.); (C.-S.H.); (Y.-J.L.); (L.Z.)
| | - Qiang Wang
- Key Laboratory of Pollinating Insect Biology, Institute of Apicultural Research, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Ministry of Agriculture, Beijing 100093, China; (Y.G.); (Q.-Y.D.); (P.-L.D.); (Q.W.); (C.-S.H.); (Y.-J.L.); (L.Z.)
| | - Chun-Sheng Hou
- Key Laboratory of Pollinating Insect Biology, Institute of Apicultural Research, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Ministry of Agriculture, Beijing 100093, China; (Y.G.); (Q.-Y.D.); (P.-L.D.); (Q.W.); (C.-S.H.); (Y.-J.L.); (L.Z.)
| | - Yong-Jun Liu
- Key Laboratory of Pollinating Insect Biology, Institute of Apicultural Research, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Ministry of Agriculture, Beijing 100093, China; (Y.G.); (Q.-Y.D.); (P.-L.D.); (Q.W.); (C.-S.H.); (Y.-J.L.); (L.Z.)
| | - Li Zhang
- Key Laboratory of Pollinating Insect Biology, Institute of Apicultural Research, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Ministry of Agriculture, Beijing 100093, China; (Y.G.); (Q.-Y.D.); (P.-L.D.); (Q.W.); (C.-S.H.); (Y.-J.L.); (L.Z.)
| | - Qi-Hua Luo
- Bureau of Landscape and Forestry, Miyun District, Beijing 101500, China;
| | - Yan-Yan Wu
- Key Laboratory of Pollinating Insect Biology, Institute of Apicultural Research, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Ministry of Agriculture, Beijing 100093, China; (Y.G.); (Q.-Y.D.); (P.-L.D.); (Q.W.); (C.-S.H.); (Y.-J.L.); (L.Z.)
| | - Jing Gao
- Key Laboratory of Pollinating Insect Biology, Institute of Apicultural Research, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Ministry of Agriculture, Beijing 100093, China; (Y.G.); (Q.-Y.D.); (P.-L.D.); (Q.W.); (C.-S.H.); (Y.-J.L.); (L.Z.)
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