Back to Search Start Over

The novel butenolide pesticide flupyradifurone does not alter responsiveness to sucrose at either acute or chronic short-term field-realistic doses in the honey bee, Apis mellifera.

The novel butenolide pesticide flupyradifurone does not alter responsiveness to sucrose at either acute or chronic short-term field-realistic doses in the honey bee, Apis mellifera.

Authors :
Bell, Heather Christine
Bell, Heather Christine
Benavides, Jaime Edilberto
Montgomery, Corina Noelle
Navratil, Jennifer Rose Evershed
Nieh, James Charles
Bell, Heather Christine
Bell, Heather Christine
Benavides, Jaime Edilberto
Montgomery, Corina Noelle
Navratil, Jennifer Rose Evershed
Nieh, James Charles
Source :
Pest management science; vol 76, iss 1, 111-117; 1526-498X
Publication Year :
2020

Abstract

BackgroundSublethal exposure to neonicotinoids, a popular class of agricultural pesticides, can lead to behavioral effects that impact the health of pollinators. Therefore, new compounds, such as flupyradifurone (FPF), have recently been developed as 'safer' alternatives. FPF is an excitotoxic nicotinic acetylcholine receptor agonist, similar to neonicotinoids. Given the novelty of FPF, what data exist are focused mostly on assessing the effect of FPF on pollinator mortality. One important avenue for investigation is the potential effect of FPF on the sensitivity of nectar foragers, such as Apis mellifera, to sucrose concentrations. Neonicotinoids can alter this sucrose responsiveness and disrupt foraging. Compounding this effect, neonicotinoid-containing solutions are preferred by A. mellifera over pure sucrose solutions. We therefore conducted four studies, administering FPF under both acute and chronic conditions, and at field-realistic and higher than field-realistic doses, to assess the influence of FPF exposure on sucrose responsiveness and sucrose solutions with FPF in A. mellifera nectar foragers.ResultsWe found no evidence that FPF exposure under acute or chronic field-realistic conditions significantly altered sucrose responsiveness, and we did not find that bees exposed to FPF consumed more of the solution. However, at the much higher median lethal dose (48 h), among bees that survived, FPF-exposed foragers responded to significantly lower concentrations of sucrose than controls and responded at significantly higher rates to all concentrations of sucrose than controls.ConclusionWe found no evidence that FPF alters the sucrose responsiveness of nectar foragers at field-realistic doses during winter or early spring, but caution and further investigation are warranted, particularly on the effects of FPF in conjunction with other stressors. © 2019 Society of Chemical Industry.

Details

Database :
OAIster
Journal :
Pest management science; vol 76, iss 1, 111-117; 1526-498X
Notes :
application/pdf, Pest management science vol 76, iss 1, 111-117 1526-498X
Publication Type :
Electronic Resource
Accession number :
edsoai.on1367407641
Document Type :
Electronic Resource