Qibao He, Qing Yang, Qiongqiong Liu
Dec 12, 2021
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Influential Citations
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Citations
Quality indicators
Journal
Pest management science
Abstract
BACKGROUND Bee population and diversity declines have drawn international attention. The long-term use of chemical pesticides has affected bee behavior and physiology. This study aimed to investigate the effects of chronic exposure to four commonly used chemical pesticides (beta-cypermethrin, chlorbenzuron, chlorothalonil and pendimethalin) on the growth of Apis mellifera ligustica and Apis cerana cerana larvae reared in vitro. RESULTS Pesticide type and concentration were the main factors affecting honey bee fitness. Beta-cypermethrin and chlorbenzuron had chronic toxic effects on bee larvae. They reduced the fitness of A. mellifera ligustica and A. cerana cerana even at low doses 323.5 ng/g of beta-cypermethrin and 62.6 ng/g of chlorbenzuron in bee bread. The effects were positively associated with the dietary amounts of pesticides. However, chlorothalonil and pendimethalin exposure did not affect bee larvae despite changes in enzyme activities. Caution is still needed with chlorothalonil, which led to a decrease in harvest adult bee numbers at a high dose (6937.2 ng/g). Furthermore, a difference in pesticide resistance was observed, suggesting that A. mellifera ligustica may tolerate toxic effects better than A. cerana cerana. CONCLUSION This study shed new light on chronic toxicity in bee larvae exposed to residues in bee bread. The results could guide the scientific and rational use of chemical pesticides to reduce the potential risks to A. mellifera ligustica and A. cerana cerana. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.