Clothianidin seed-treatment has no detectable negative impact on honeybee colonies and their pathogens

Julia Osterman (), Dimitry Wintermantel, Barbara Locke, Ove Jonsson, Emilia Semberg, Piero Onorati, Eva Forsgren, Peter Rosenkranz, Thorsten Rahbek-Pedersen, Riccardo Bommarco, Henrik G. Smith, Maj Rundlöf and Joachim R. de Miranda ()
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Julia Osterman: Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences
Dimitry Wintermantel: Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences
Barbara Locke: Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences
Ove Jonsson: Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences
Emilia Semberg: Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences
Piero Onorati: Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences
Eva Forsgren: Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences
Peter Rosenkranz: University of Hohenheim
Thorsten Rahbek-Pedersen: Swedish Board of Agriculture
Riccardo Bommarco: Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences
Henrik G. Smith: Lund University
Maj Rundlöf: Lund University
Joachim R. de Miranda: Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences

Nature Communications, 2019, vol. 10, issue 1, 1-13

Abstract: Abstract Interactions between multiple stressors have been implicated in elevated honeybee colony losses. Here, we extend our landscape-scale study on the effects of placement at clothianidin seed-treated oilseed rape fields on honeybees with an additional year and new data on honeybee colony development, swarming, mortality, pathogens and immune gene expression. Clothianidin residues in pollen, nectar and honeybees were consistently higher at clothianidin-treated fields, with large differences between fields and years. We found large variations in colony development and microbial composition and no observable negative impact of placement at clothianidin-treated fields. Clothianidin treatment was associated with an increase in brood, adult bees and Gilliamella apicola (beneficial gut symbiont) and a decrease in Aphid lethal paralysis virus and Black queen cell virus - particularly in the second year. The results suggest that at colony level, honeybees are relatively robust to the effects of clothianidin in real-world agricultural landscapes, with moderate, natural disease pressure.

Date: 2019
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DOI: 10.1038/s41467-019-08523-4

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