Effects of dietary transgenic Bt corn pollen on larvae of Apis mellifera and Galleria mellonella

Abstract

SUMMARYThe effects of dietary transgenic Bt corn pollen on 4–5–day-old honey bee worker larvae were examined. We measured larval and pupal mortalities, pupal weight, and haemolymph protein concentration of newly emerged adults after they were fed (as larvae) various pollens (mixed bee pollen, non-transgenic corn pollen, Cry1A(b) or Cry1F corn pollen). There were no significant differences in all the parameters tested between larvae fed transgenic Bt corn pollen Cry1 A(b) or Cry1 F and non-transgenic corn pollen. We also evaluated Bt corn pollen as a potential control for wax moth larvae in a laboratory study. We fed first instar wax moth larvae three types of pollen: non-transgenic corn pollen, Cry1 A(b) corn pollen, and Cry1F corn pollen. We found that the mortality of larvae fed Cry1 F corn pollen was significantly greater than the mortality of larvae fed Cry1 A(b) corn pollen or non-transgenic corn pollen (P < 0.05). In each trial Cry1 F fed larvae showed 100% mortality. Our studies suggest that transgenic Bt corn pollen does not pose a threat to honey bee larval development and has the potential to serve as an alternative control for wax moth.