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Lethal and sublethal effects, and incomplete clearance of ingested imidacloprid in honey bees (Apis mellifera)

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Abstract

A previous study claimed a differential behavioural resilience between spring or summer honey bees (Apis mellifera) and bumble bees (Bombus terrestris) after exposure to syrup contaminated with 125 µg L−1 imidacloprid for 8 days. The authors of that study based their assertion on the lack of body residues and toxic effects in honey bees, whereas bumble bees showed body residues of imidacloprid and impaired locomotion during the exposure. We have reproduced their experiment using winter honey bees subject to the same protocol. After exposure to syrup contaminated with 125 µg L−1 imidacloprid, honey bees experienced high mortality rates (up to 45%), had body residues of imidacloprid in the range 2.7–5.7 ng g−1 and exhibited abnormal behaviours (restless, apathetic, trembling and falling over) that were significantly different from the controls. There was incomplete clearance of the insecticide during the 10-day exposure period. Our results contrast with the findings reported in the previous study for spring or summer honey bees, but are consistent with the results reported for the other bee species.

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Funding

This study was only supported by the recurrent funding of the respective research organisms of the authors.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. School of Life and Environmental Sciences, Biomedical building, The University of Sydney, Eveleigh, NSW, 2015, Australia

    Francisco Sánchez-Bayo

  2. INRA, Laboratoire de Toxicologie Environnementale, UR 406 A&E, Avignon, France

    Luc Belzunces

  3. Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS), Centre de Biophysique Moléculaire, Orléans, 45071, France

    Jean-Marc Bonmatin

Authors
  1. Francisco Sánchez-Bayo
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  2. Luc Belzunces
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  3. Jean-Marc Bonmatin
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Correspondence to Francisco Sánchez-Bayo.

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All applicable international, national, and/or institutional guidelines for the care and use of animals were followed.

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Sánchez-Bayo, F., Belzunces, L. & Bonmatin, JM. Lethal and sublethal effects, and incomplete clearance of ingested imidacloprid in honey bees (Apis mellifera). Ecotoxicology 26, 1199–1206 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10646-017-1845-9

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10646-017-1845-9

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