Pesticide exposure of honeybees (Apis mellifera) pollinating melon crops

Idalécio Pacífico Da Silva,Benito Soto-Blanco,Ivana Cristina N Gadelha,Marília M Melo,Heloísa P Pedroza,Fabiano Aurélio S Oliveira

doi:10.1007/s13592-015-0360-3

Abstract

The decline of honeybee (Apis mellifera L.) populations impacts global agricultural production and affects both food production and the economy. One of the probable causes for this decline is the indiscriminate use of pesticides. Here, we compare the levels of pesticide exposure among honeybees that are used to pollinate melon (Cucumis melo L.) crops, honeybees that forage in the forest, and stingless bees, Melipona subnitida, that forage in the forest. The level of pesticide exposure was determined by measuring residual pesticide levels of 152 compounds in the honey. Honey samples from the present study contained 19 different pesticides, 13 of which were present in honey from bees pollinating melon crops. The levels of some compounds were sufficiently high to promote toxic effects in the bees. Thus, crop pollination presents a toxicological risk to bees that may reduce their life span.

Highlights

Flower pollination by animals is critical for agriculture; approximately 35 % of crops are dependent on pollinators for sexual reproduction (Klein et al 2007)
The aim of the present study was to determine the levels of pesticide exposure among honeybees (A. mellifera ) that are used to pollinate melon (Cucumis melo L.) crops and compare the pesticide exposure levels to those of honeybees that forage in the forest and stingless bees, Melipona subnitida Ducke, that forage in the forest
Thirteen compounds were found in the honey from honeybees used to pollinate melon crops (Table II), six compounds were found in the honey from honeybees that forage in the forest (Table III), and four compounds were found in the honey from stingless bees that forage in the forest (Table IV)

Summary

Introduction

Flower pollination by animals is critical for agriculture; approximately 35 % of crops are dependent on pollinators for sexual reproduction (Klein et al 2007). Honeybees (Apis mellifera L.) are the most economically valuable pollinators for agriculture (Klein et al 2007; Potts et al 2010). An entire colony may be exposed to pesticides through the collection and transportation of contaminated pollen by forager bees (Villa et al 2000). Bees foraging on melon crops may be exposed to pesticides via guttation fluid, a xylem sap exudate that is eliminated through leaf hydathodes (Thompson 2010; Hoffmann and Castle 2012)

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Conclusion