Biochemical Indicators and Mortality in Honey Bee ( Apis mellifera ) Workers after Oral Exposure to Plant Protection Products and Their Mixtures

Paweł Migdał (), Agnieszka Murawska, Ewelina Berbeć, Karol Zarębski, Natalia Ratajczak, Adam Roman and Krzysztof Latarowski
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Paweł Migdał: Department of Bees Breeding, Institute of Animal Husbandry and Breeding, Wrocław University of Environmental and Life Sciences, 38C Chełmońskiego St., 51-630 Wroclaw, Poland
Agnieszka Murawska: Department of Bees Breeding, Institute of Animal Husbandry and Breeding, Wrocław University of Environmental and Life Sciences, 38C Chełmońskiego St., 51-630 Wroclaw, Poland
Ewelina Berbeć: Department of Bees Breeding, Institute of Animal Husbandry and Breeding, Wrocław University of Environmental and Life Sciences, 38C Chełmońskiego St., 51-630 Wroclaw, Poland
Karol Zarębski: Department of Bees Breeding, Institute of Animal Husbandry and Breeding, Wrocław University of Environmental and Life Sciences, 38C Chełmońskiego St., 51-630 Wroclaw, Poland
Natalia Ratajczak: Department of Bees Breeding, Institute of Animal Husbandry and Breeding, Wrocław University of Environmental and Life Sciences, 38C Chełmońskiego St., 51-630 Wroclaw, Poland
Adam Roman: Department of Bees Breeding, Institute of Animal Husbandry and Breeding, Wrocław University of Environmental and Life Sciences, 38C Chełmońskiego St., 51-630 Wroclaw, Poland
Krzysztof Latarowski: Department of Human Nutrition, Wrocław University of Environmental and Life Sciences, 25 C.K. Norwida St., 51-630 Wroclaw, Poland

Agriculture, 2023, vol. 14, issue 1, 1-13

Abstract: The honey bee obtains food from bee forage, which comprises crops grown in multi-hectare agricultural fields where various types of plant protection products such as pesticides are used. Some of these negatively affect the honey bee organism. In our research, we aimed to evaluate the effects of three pesticide groups: fungicides (tebuconazole), insecticides (acetamiprid), herbicides (glyphosate), and their mixtures on the functioning of honey bee workers ( A. mellifera carnica ). Pesticides in various proportions and dilutions were added to sugar syrups and then fed to the bees. Mortality and food intake were recorded daily, while hemolymph analysis was performed after seven days of exposure. Food intake, mortality, and the results of various biochemical analyses differed between the experimental group and the control group receiving untreated sugar syrup. PPP’s mixture of glyphosate tebuconazole and acetamiprid is more toxic to bees than single pesticides. Certain protection products such as pesticides can disrupt the antioxidant and detoxification systems associated with immunity in honey bees. Consequently, honey bees experience weaker conditions and their proper functioning deteriorates. The results obtained from biochemical changes provide a basis for field studies.

Keywords: honey bee; pesticide; toxicity (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: Q1 Q10 Q11 Q12 Q13 Q14 Q15 Q16 Q17 Q18 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2023
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