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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] [MESH Headings] [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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Scheibli L, Wiedenmann M, Wolf H, Stemme T, Pfeffer SE. Flupyradifurone negatively affects survival, physical condition and mobility in the two-spotted lady beetle (Adalia bipunctata). THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2024; 931:172617. [PMID: 38653409 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2024.172617] [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: 11/01/2023] [Revised: 04/12/2024] [Accepted: 04/17/2024] [Indexed: 04/25/2024]
Abstract
Lady beetles play a crucial role in natural ecosystems and agricultural settings. Unfortunately, these insects and more specifically the two-spotted lady beetle (Adalia bipunctata) are currently facing a severe decline in populations due to various stressors, with pesticide exposure being a significant threat. Flupyradifurone is a relatively newly introduced insecticide and as existing research is mainly elucidating its effects on bees there remains a limited understanding of its effects on non-hymenopteran insects, including lady beetles. In this study we investigated the impact of acute orally applied flupyradifurone doses on survival and sublethal parameters such as physical condition and mobility on A. bipunctata. Our findings revealed a significant increase in mortality among individuals subjected to flupyradifurone doses of 19 ng/individual (corresponding to >1.5-2.0 ng active substance (a.s.)/mg body weight (bw). The calculated LD50 of flupyradifurone at 48 h was 2.11 ng a.s./mg bw corresponding to an amount of 26.38 ng/individual. Sublethal consequences were observable immediately after pesticide application. Even at doses as low as 2 ng/individual (corresponding to >0.0-0.5 ng a.s./mg bw), flupyradifurone induced trembling and temporary immobility in treated animals. Furthermore, pesticide intoxication led to hypoactivity, with less distance covered and a decline in straightness of locomotion. In conclusion, our study underscores the harmful effects of flupyradifurone on the two-spotted lady beetle at doses notably lower than those affecting bees. These findings stress the importance of additional research to attain a more holistic understanding of pesticide impacts not only on a broader range of non-target arthropods species, but also on various exposure routes as well as lethal and sublethal effects.
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Affiliation(s)
- Leonie Scheibli
- Ulm University, Institute of Neurobiology, 89081 Ulm, Germany.
| | | | - Harald Wolf
- Ulm University, Institute of Neurobiology, 89081 Ulm, Germany
| | - Torben Stemme
- Ulm University, Institute of Neurobiology, 89081 Ulm, Germany
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Wu J, Liu F, Sun J, Wei Q, Kang W, Wang F, Zhang C, Zhao M, Xu S, Han B. Toxic effects of acaricide fenazaquin on development, hemolymph metabolome, and gut microbiome of honeybee (Apis mellifera) larvae. CHEMOSPHERE 2024; 358:142207. [PMID: 38697560 DOI: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2024.142207] [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: 02/18/2024] [Revised: 04/06/2024] [Accepted: 04/29/2024] [Indexed: 05/05/2024]
Abstract
Fenazaquin, a potent insecticide widely used to control phytophagous mites, has recently emerged as a potential solution for managing Varroa destructor mites in honeybees. However, the comprehensive impact of fenazaquin on honeybee health remains insufficiently understood. Our current study investigated the acute and chronic toxicity of fenazaquin to honeybee larvae, along with its influence on larval hemolymph metabolism and gut microbiota. Results showed that the acute median lethal dose (LD50) of fenazaquin for honeybee larvae was 1.786 μg/larva, and the chronic LD50 was 1.213 μg/larva. Although chronic exposure to low doses of fenazaquin exhibited no significant effect on larval development, increasing doses of fenazaquin resulted in significant increases in larval mortality, developmental time, and deformity rates. At the metabolic level, high doses of fenazaquin inhibited nucleotide, purine, and lipid metabolism pathways in the larval hemolymph, leading to energy metabolism disorders and physiological dysfunction. Furthermore, high doses of fenazaquin reduced gut microbial diversity and abundance, characterized by decreased relative abundance of functional gut bacterium Lactobacillus kunkeei and increased pathogenic bacterium Melissococcus plutonius. The disrupted gut microbiota, combined with the observed gut tissue damage, could potentially impair food digestion and nutrient absorption in the larvae. Our results provide valuable insights into the complex and diverse effects of fenazaquin on honeybee larvae, establishing an important theoretical basis for applying fenazaquin in beekeeping.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jiangli Wu
- State Key Laboratory of Resource Insects, Institute of Apicultural Research, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing, 100193, China
| | - Fengying Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Resource Insects, Institute of Apicultural Research, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing, 100193, China
| | - Jiajing Sun
- State Key Laboratory of Resource Insects, Institute of Apicultural Research, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing, 100193, China
| | - Qiaohong Wei
- State Key Laboratory of Resource Insects, Institute of Apicultural Research, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing, 100193, China
| | - Weipeng Kang
- State Key Laboratory of Resource Insects, Institute of Apicultural Research, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing, 100193, China
| | - Feng Wang
- Institute of Horticultural Research, Shanxi Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Shanxi Agricultural University, Taiyuan, 030031, China
| | - Chenhuan Zhang
- Zhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory of Biometrology and Inspection & Quarantine, College of Life Sciences, China Jiliang University, Hangzhou, 310018, China
| | - Meijiao Zhao
- State Key Laboratory of Resource Insects, Institute of Apicultural Research, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing, 100193, China
| | - Shufa Xu
- State Key Laboratory of Resource Insects, Institute of Apicultural Research, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing, 100193, China.
| | - Bin Han
- State Key Laboratory of Resource Insects, Institute of Apicultural Research, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing, 100193, China.
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Farder-Gomes CF, de Oliveira MA, Malaspina O, Nocelli RFC. Exposure of the stingless bee Melipona scutellaris to imidacloprid, pyraclostrobin, and glyphosate, alone and in combination, impair its walking activity and fat body morphology and physiology. ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION (BARKING, ESSEX : 1987) 2024; 348:123783. [PMID: 38490525 DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2024.123783] [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: 12/05/2023] [Revised: 02/28/2024] [Accepted: 03/11/2024] [Indexed: 03/17/2024]
Abstract
The stingless bee Melipona scutellaris performs buzz pollination, effectively pollinating several wild plants and crops with economic relevance. However, most research has focused on honeybees, leaving a significant gap in studies concerning native species, particularly regarding the impacts of pesticide combinations on these pollinators. Thus, this study aimed to evaluate the sublethal effects of imidacloprid (IMD), pyraclostrobin (PYR), and glyphosate (GLY) on the behavior and fat body cell morphology and physiology of M. scutellaris. Foragers were orally exposed to the different pesticides alone and in combination for 48 h. Bees fed with contaminated solution walked less, moved slower, presented morphological changes in the fat body, including vacuolization, altered cell shape and nuclei morphology, and exhibited a higher count of altered oenocytes and trophocytes. In all exposed groups, alone and in combination, the number of cells expressing caspase-3 increased, but the TLR4 number of cells expressing decreased compared to the control groups. The intensity of HSP70 immunolabeling increased compared to the control groups. However, the intensity of the immunolabeling of HSP90 decreased in the IMD, GLY, and I + G (IMD + GLY) groups but increased in I + P-exposed bees (IMD + PYR). Alternatively, exposure to PYR and P + G (PYR + GLY) did not affect the immunolabeling intensity. Our findings demonstrate the hazardous effects and environmental consequences of isolated and combined pesticides on a vital neotropical pollinator. Understanding how pesticides impact the fat body can provide crucial insights into the overall health and survival of native bee populations, which can help develop more environmentally friendly approaches to agricultural practices.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cliver Fernandes Farder-Gomes
- Departamento de Ciências da Natureza, Matemática e Educação, Universidade Federal de São Carlos Campus Araras, Araras, SP, 13600-970, Brazil.
| | - Marco Antônio de Oliveira
- Instituto de Ciências Biológicas e da Saúde, Universidade Federal de Viçosa Campus Florestal, Florestal, MG, 35690-000, Brazil.
| | - Osmar Malaspina
- Universidade Estadual Paulista (UNESP) - "Júlio de Mesquita Filho", Instituto de Biociências (IB), Rio Claro, SP, 13506-900, Brazil.
| | - Roberta Ferreira Cornélio Nocelli
- Departamento de Ciências da Natureza, Matemática e Educação, Universidade Federal de São Carlos Campus Araras, Araras, SP, 13600-970, Brazil.
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Bava R, Lupia C, Castagna F, Ruga S, Nucera S, Caminiti R, Bulotta RM, Naccari C, Carresi C, Musolino V, Statti G, Britti D, Mollace V, Palma E. Bergamot Polyphenolic Fraction for the Control of Flupyradifurone-Induced Poisoning in Honeybees. Animals (Basel) 2024; 14:608. [PMID: 38396576 PMCID: PMC10886160 DOI: 10.3390/ani14040608] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/25/2024] [Revised: 02/10/2024] [Accepted: 02/11/2024] [Indexed: 02/25/2024] Open
Abstract
Flupyradifurone (FLU) is a butenolide insecticide that has come onto the market relatively recently. It is used in agriculture to control aphids, psyllids, and whiteflies. Toxicity studies have decreed its low toxicity to honeybees. However, recent research has challenged these claims; oral exposure to the pesticide can lead to behavioral abnormalities and in the worst cases, lethal phenomena. Compounds with antioxidant activity, such as flavonoids and polyphenols, have been shown to protect against the toxic effects of pesticides. The aim of this research was to evaluate the possible protective effect of the bergamot polyphenolic fraction (BPF) against behavioral abnormalities and lethality induced by toxic doses of FLU orally administered to honeybees under laboratory conditions. Honeybees were assigned to experimental groups in which two toxic doses of FLU, 50 mg/L and 100 mg/L were administered. In other replicates, three doses (1, 2 and 5 mg/kg) of the bergamot polyphenolic fraction (BPF) were added to the above toxic doses. In the experimental groups intoxicated with FLU at the highest dose tested, all caged subjects (20 individuals) died within the second day of administration. The survival probability of the groups to which the BPF was added was compared to that of the groups to which only the toxic doses of FLU were administered. The mortality rate in the BPF groups was statistically lower (p < 0.05) than in the intoxicated groups; in addition, a lower percentage of individuals exhibited behavioral abnormalities. According to this research, the ingestion of the BPF attenuates the harmful effects of FLU. Further studies are needed before proposing BPF incorporation into the honeybees' diet, but there already seem to be beneficial effects associated with its intake.
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Affiliation(s)
- Roberto Bava
- Department of Health Sciences, University of Catanzaro Magna Græcia, 88100 Catanzaro, Italy; (R.B.); (C.L.); (S.R.); (S.N.); (R.C.); (R.M.B.); (C.N.); (C.C.); (V.M.); (D.B.); (V.M.); (E.P.)
| | - Carmine Lupia
- Department of Health Sciences, University of Catanzaro Magna Græcia, 88100 Catanzaro, Italy; (R.B.); (C.L.); (S.R.); (S.N.); (R.C.); (R.M.B.); (C.N.); (C.C.); (V.M.); (D.B.); (V.M.); (E.P.)
- Mediterranean Ethnobotanical Conservatory, 88054 Sersale, Italy
| | - Fabio Castagna
- Department of Health Sciences, University of Catanzaro Magna Græcia, 88100 Catanzaro, Italy; (R.B.); (C.L.); (S.R.); (S.N.); (R.C.); (R.M.B.); (C.N.); (C.C.); (V.M.); (D.B.); (V.M.); (E.P.)
- Mediterranean Ethnobotanical Conservatory, 88054 Sersale, Italy
| | - Stefano Ruga
- Department of Health Sciences, University of Catanzaro Magna Græcia, 88100 Catanzaro, Italy; (R.B.); (C.L.); (S.R.); (S.N.); (R.C.); (R.M.B.); (C.N.); (C.C.); (V.M.); (D.B.); (V.M.); (E.P.)
| | - Saverio Nucera
- Department of Health Sciences, University of Catanzaro Magna Græcia, 88100 Catanzaro, Italy; (R.B.); (C.L.); (S.R.); (S.N.); (R.C.); (R.M.B.); (C.N.); (C.C.); (V.M.); (D.B.); (V.M.); (E.P.)
| | - Rosamaria Caminiti
- Department of Health Sciences, University of Catanzaro Magna Græcia, 88100 Catanzaro, Italy; (R.B.); (C.L.); (S.R.); (S.N.); (R.C.); (R.M.B.); (C.N.); (C.C.); (V.M.); (D.B.); (V.M.); (E.P.)
| | - Rosa Maria Bulotta
- Department of Health Sciences, University of Catanzaro Magna Græcia, 88100 Catanzaro, Italy; (R.B.); (C.L.); (S.R.); (S.N.); (R.C.); (R.M.B.); (C.N.); (C.C.); (V.M.); (D.B.); (V.M.); (E.P.)
| | - Clara Naccari
- Department of Health Sciences, University of Catanzaro Magna Græcia, 88100 Catanzaro, Italy; (R.B.); (C.L.); (S.R.); (S.N.); (R.C.); (R.M.B.); (C.N.); (C.C.); (V.M.); (D.B.); (V.M.); (E.P.)
| | - Cristina Carresi
- Department of Health Sciences, University of Catanzaro Magna Græcia, 88100 Catanzaro, Italy; (R.B.); (C.L.); (S.R.); (S.N.); (R.C.); (R.M.B.); (C.N.); (C.C.); (V.M.); (D.B.); (V.M.); (E.P.)
| | - Vincenzo Musolino
- Department of Health Sciences, University of Catanzaro Magna Græcia, 88100 Catanzaro, Italy; (R.B.); (C.L.); (S.R.); (S.N.); (R.C.); (R.M.B.); (C.N.); (C.C.); (V.M.); (D.B.); (V.M.); (E.P.)
| | - Giancarlo Statti
- Department of Pharmacy, Health and Nutritional Sciences, University of Calabria, 87036 Rende, Italy;
| | - Domenico Britti
- Department of Health Sciences, University of Catanzaro Magna Græcia, 88100 Catanzaro, Italy; (R.B.); (C.L.); (S.R.); (S.N.); (R.C.); (R.M.B.); (C.N.); (C.C.); (V.M.); (D.B.); (V.M.); (E.P.)
| | - Vincenzo Mollace
- Department of Health Sciences, University of Catanzaro Magna Græcia, 88100 Catanzaro, Italy; (R.B.); (C.L.); (S.R.); (S.N.); (R.C.); (R.M.B.); (C.N.); (C.C.); (V.M.); (D.B.); (V.M.); (E.P.)
- Center for Pharmacological Research, Food Safety, High Tech and Health (IRC-FSH), University of Catanzaro Magna Græcia, 88100 Catanzaro, Italy
| | - Ernesto Palma
- Department of Health Sciences, University of Catanzaro Magna Græcia, 88100 Catanzaro, Italy; (R.B.); (C.L.); (S.R.); (S.N.); (R.C.); (R.M.B.); (C.N.); (C.C.); (V.M.); (D.B.); (V.M.); (E.P.)
- Center for Pharmacological Research, Food Safety, High Tech and Health (IRC-FSH), University of Catanzaro Magna Græcia, 88100 Catanzaro, Italy
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Farder-Gomes CF, Grella TC, Malaspina O, Nocelli RFC. Exposure to sublethal concentrations of imidacloprid, pyraclostrobin, and glyphosate harm the behavior and fat body cells of the stingless bee Scaptotrigona postica. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2024; 907:168072. [PMID: 37879468 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2023.168072] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/18/2023] [Revised: 10/18/2023] [Accepted: 10/21/2023] [Indexed: 10/27/2023]
Abstract
Pesticide use in agriculture threatens non-target insects such as bees. Considering the ecological and economic relevance of native bees, such as Scaptotrigona postica, and the insufficient studies on the effects of pesticides on their behavior and physiology, improving the current knowledge on this issue is essential. Therefore, this study investigated the sublethal effects of imidacloprid, pyraclostrobin, and glyphosate on the behavior and fat body cells of S. postica. Pesticide ingestion decreased the walking distance and mean velocity of bees compared to the control and solvent control groups. The oenocytes of the control groups were spherical, with central nuclei containing decondensed chromatin, and the trophocytes presented irregular morphology, with cells varying in shape and the cytoplasm filled with vacuoles and granules. However, bees exposed to pesticides showed extensive cytoarchitectural disruption in the fat body, such as vacuolization and shape changes in oenocytes and altered nuclei morphology in trophocytes. Moreover, pesticide exposure increased the number of atypical oenocytes and altered trophocytes, except for the PYR group, which showed a lower number of atypical oenocytes. Caspase-positive labeling significantly increased in all exposed bee groups. Alternatively, TLR4 labeling was significantly decreased in the exposed groups compared to the control groups. There was a significant increase in HSP90 immunolabeling in all exposed groups compared to the control. These findings reinforce the importance of research on the sublethal effects of low pesticide concentrations on key neotropical pollinators and prove that these toxic substances can impair their detoxification and immune defense.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cliver Fernandes Farder-Gomes
- Departamento de Ciências da Natureza, Matemática e Educação, Universidade Federal de São Carlos Campus Araras, Araras, SP 13.600-970, Brazil.
| | - Tatiane Caroline Grella
- Universidade Estadual Paulista (UNESP) - "Júlio de Mesquita Filho", Instituto de Biociências (IB), Departamento de Biologia Geral e Aplicada, Rio Claro, SP 13506-900, Brazil
| | - Osmar Malaspina
- Universidade Estadual Paulista (UNESP) - "Júlio de Mesquita Filho", Instituto de Biociências (IB), Departamento de Biologia Geral e Aplicada, Rio Claro, SP 13506-900, Brazil.
| | - Roberta Ferreira Cornélio Nocelli
- Departamento de Ciências da Natureza, Matemática e Educação, Universidade Federal de São Carlos Campus Araras, Araras, SP 13.600-970, Brazil.
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Domingues CEC, Inoue LVB, Gregorc A, Ansaloni LS, Malaspina O, Mathias da Silva EC. Ultrastructural Changes in the Midgut of Brazilian Native Stingless Bee Melipona scutellaris Exposed to Fungicide Pyraclostrobin. TOXICS 2023; 11:1028. [PMID: 38133429 PMCID: PMC10748086 DOI: 10.3390/toxics11121028] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/21/2023] [Revised: 12/11/2023] [Accepted: 12/14/2023] [Indexed: 12/23/2023]
Abstract
Melipona scutellaris is a Brazilian stingless bee that is important for pollinating wild flora and agriculture crops. Fungicides have been widely used in agriculture, and floral residues can affect forager bees. The goal of our study was to evaluate the effects of sublethal concentrations of pyraclostrobin on the midgut ultrastructure of M. scutellaris forager workers. The bees were collected from three non-parental colonies and kept under laboratory conditions. The bees were orally exposed continuously for five days to pyraclostrobin in syrup at concentrations of 0.125 ng a.i./µL (FG1) and 0.005 ng a.i./µL (FG2). The control bees (CTL) were fed a no-fungicide sucrose solution, and the acetone solvent control bees (CAC) received a sucrose solution containing acetone. At the end of the exposure, the midguts were sampled, fixed in Karnovsky solution, and routinely processed for transmission electron microscopy. Ultrastructural analysis demonstrated that both the fungicide concentrations altered the midgut, such as cytoplasmic vacuolization (more intense in FG1), the presence of an atypical nuclear morphology, and slightly dilated mitochondrial cristae in the bees from the FG1 and FG2 groups (both more intense in FG1). Additionally, there was an alteration in the ultrastructure of the spherocrystals (FG1), which could be the result of cellular metabolism impairment and the excretion of toxic metabolites in the digestive cells as a response to fungicide exposure. The results indicate that ingested pyraclostrobin induced cytotoxic effects in the midgut of native stingless bees. These cellular ultrastructural responses of the midgut are a prelude to a reduced survival rate, as observed in previous studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Caio E. C. Domingues
- Faculty of Agriculture and Life Sciences, University of Maribor, Pivola 10, 2311 Hoče, Slovenia (L.S.A.)
- Centro de Estudos de Insetos Sociais (CEIS), Departamento de Biologia Geral e Aplicada, Instituto de Biociências (IB), Universidade Estadual Paulista (UNESP)—“Júlio de Mesquita Filho”, Rio Claro 13506-900, SP, Brazil; (L.V.B.I.); (O.M.)
| | - Lais V. B. Inoue
- Centro de Estudos de Insetos Sociais (CEIS), Departamento de Biologia Geral e Aplicada, Instituto de Biociências (IB), Universidade Estadual Paulista (UNESP)—“Júlio de Mesquita Filho”, Rio Claro 13506-900, SP, Brazil; (L.V.B.I.); (O.M.)
| | - Aleš Gregorc
- Faculty of Agriculture and Life Sciences, University of Maribor, Pivola 10, 2311 Hoče, Slovenia (L.S.A.)
| | - Leticia S. Ansaloni
- Faculty of Agriculture and Life Sciences, University of Maribor, Pivola 10, 2311 Hoče, Slovenia (L.S.A.)
| | - Osmar Malaspina
- Centro de Estudos de Insetos Sociais (CEIS), Departamento de Biologia Geral e Aplicada, Instituto de Biociências (IB), Universidade Estadual Paulista (UNESP)—“Júlio de Mesquita Filho”, Rio Claro 13506-900, SP, Brazil; (L.V.B.I.); (O.M.)
| | - Elaine C. Mathias da Silva
- Laboratório de Ecotoxicologia e Análise de Integridade Ambiental (LEIA), Departamento de Biologia (DBio), Universidade Federal de São Carlos (UFSCar), Sorocaba 18052-780, SP, Brazil;
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Wu WY, Liao LH, Lin CH, Johnson RM, Berenbaum MR. Effects of pesticide-adjuvant combinations used in almond orchards on olfactory responses to social signals in honey bees (Apis mellifera). Sci Rep 2023; 13:15577. [PMID: 37730836 PMCID: PMC10511525 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-023-41818-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/18/2023] [Accepted: 08/31/2023] [Indexed: 09/22/2023] Open
Abstract
Exposure to agrochemical sprays containing pesticides and tank-mix adjuvants has been implicated in post-bloom mortality, particularly of brood, in honey bee colonies brought into California almond orchards for pollination. Although adjuvants are generally considered to be biologically inert, some adjuvants have exhibited toxicity and sublethal effects, including decreasing survival rates of next-generation queens. Honey bees have a highly developed olfactory system to detect and discriminate among social signals. To investigate the impact of pesticide-adjuvant combinations on honey bee signal perception, we performed electroantennography assays to assess alterations in their olfactory responsiveness to the brood ester pheromone (BEP), the volatile larval pheromone β-ocimene, and the alarm pheromone 2-heptanone. These assays aimed to uncover potential mechanisms underlying changes in social behaviors and reduced brood survival after pesticide exposure. We found that combining the adjuvant Dyne-Amic with the fungicide Tilt (propiconazole) and the insecticide Altacor (chlorantraniliprole) synergistically enhanced olfactory responses to three concentrations of BEP and as well exerted dampening and compensatory effects on responses to 2-heptanone and β-ocimene, respectively. In contrast, exposure to adjuvant alone or the combination of fungicide and insecticide had no effect on olfactory responses to BEP at most concentrations but altered responses to β-ocimene and 2-heptanone. Exposure to Dyne-Amic, Altacor, and Tilt increased BEP signal amplitude, indicating potential changes in olfactory receptor sensitivity or sensilla permeability to odorants. Given that, in a previous study, next-generation queens raised by nurses exposed to the same treated pollen experienced reduced survival, these new findings highlight the potential disruption of social signaling in honey bees and its implications for colony reproductive success.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wen-Yen Wu
- Department of Entomology, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, 505 S. Goodwin Avenue, Urbana, IL, 61801, USA
| | - Ling-Hsiu Liao
- Department of Entomology, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, 505 S. Goodwin Avenue, Urbana, IL, 61801, USA.
| | - Chia-Hua Lin
- Department of Entomology, Rothenbuhler Honey Bee Research Laboratory, The Ohio State University, 2501 Carmack Road, Columbus, OH, 43210, USA
| | - Reed M Johnson
- Department of Entomology, Rothenbuhler Honey Bee Research Laboratory, The Ohio State University, 2501 Carmack Road, Columbus, OH, 43210, USA
| | - May R Berenbaum
- Department of Entomology, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, 505 S. Goodwin Avenue, Urbana, IL, 61801, USA
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