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Case Study: Beehive Devastation by Microencapsulated Parathion-Methyl

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Abstract

During spring 2012, massive honeybee mortality was observed within 2000 beehives in southwest Uruguay. The incident was presumed to be due to pesticide applications in the hives surroundings. To find the causative agent, bees were analyzed by gas and liquid chromatography coupled t o mass spectrometry, employing a method reported by our group that has been expanded to 39 compounds. The new scope includes parathion-methyl, which was found at an average 0.48 µg bee−1, ten times higher than the LD50 for bees. Parathion-methyl is only allowed to be sold as microcapsules, a slow release formulation type with 80–50 µm particle diameter. Surprisingly, it was stated that parathion-methyl microcapsules were applied in the zone but 1000–2000 m ahead from the affected hives. This fact was not only a confirmation of the distances bees can fly from the hive, but also demonstrated that the microcapsules, mistaken for pollen, were transported to the hive where the toxic was released. Although microcapsules have environmental advantages as a pesticide delivery system they can threaten honeybees’ survival.

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Acknowledgments

Programa de Desarrollo Ciencias Básicas: PEDECIBA, Comisión Sectorial de Investigación Científica: CSIC, Instituto Nacional de Investigaciones Agropecuarias: INIA-LA ESTANZUELA, FPTA 320, Ariel Martínez, Grupo Asesor Fitosanitarios Abejas: GAFA, Ministerio Ganadería Agricultura y Pesca: MGAP.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Polo Agroalimentario y Agroindustrial, DQL, CENUR Litoral Norte, Universidad de la República, Ruta 3 km 363, Paysandú, Uruguay

    Silvina Niell, Florencia Jesús, Verónica Cesio & Horacio Heinzen

  2. Cátedra de Farmacognosia y Productos Naturales, Facultad de Química, Universidad de la República, Gral. Flores 2124, Montevideo, Uruguay

    Natalia Gerez, Verónica Cesio & Horacio Heinzen

Authors
  1. Silvina Niell
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  2. Natalia Gerez
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  3. Florencia Jesús
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  4. Verónica Cesio
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  5. Horacio Heinzen
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Correspondence to Horacio Heinzen.

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The authors declare no conflicts of interest.

Research involving Human Participants and/or Animals

No research involving human participants and/or animals has been conducted.

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Published in the topical collection 5th Latin American Pesticide Residue Workshop with guest editor Steven J. Lehotay.

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Niell, S., Gerez, N., Jesús, F. et al. Case Study: Beehive Devastation by Microencapsulated Parathion-Methyl. Chromatographia 79, 1085–1090 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10337-016-3027-y

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10337-016-3027-y

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