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Related Experiment Videos

The formulation makes the honey bee poison.

Christopher A Mullin1, Jing Chen1, Julia D Fine1

  • 1Department of Entomology, Center for Pollinator Research, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA 16802, USA.

Pesticide Biochemistry and Physiology
|May 20, 2015
PubMed
Summary

The formulation ingredients, not just active pesticides, are key to bee decline. These widely used

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Area of Science:

  • Environmental Chemistry
  • Ecotoxicology
  • Apiculture Science

Background:

  • Agrochemicals impact non-target species like bees, but the cause of pollinator decline remains unclear.
  • Pesticide formulations contain adjuvants and inert ingredients that may contribute to toxicity.
  • Understanding the environmental chemical background exposure is crucial for bee health.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the role of pesticide formulation ingredients in bee toxicity.
  • To determine if 'inerts' contribute more significantly to bee exposure than active ingredients.
  • To assess honey bees as bioindicators for formulation-induced toxicity.

Main Methods:

  • Analysis of beehive samples for pesticide active ingredients and formulation co-formulants.
Keywords:
AdjuvantsFormulation ingredientsInertsNon-target effectsPesticide residues in beehivesSurfactants

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  • Conducting larval feeding bioassays and adult bee learning impairment tests.
  • Comparing the prevalence and concentration of active ingredients versus inert ingredients.

    • Main Results:

    • No correlation found between individual pesticide levels and recent bee declines.
    • 100% detection of targeted formulation ingredients (e.g., NMP, surfactants) in beehives.
    • Formulation ingredients like NMP caused learning impairment in adult bees and chronic larval toxicity.

    Conclusions:

    • Widespread pesticide formulation ingredients ('inerts') are frequently detected in beehives.
    • These 'inerts' can overwhelm the chemical burden from active ingredients and impact bee health.
    • Honey bees serve as effective bioindicators for the toxicity of pesticide formulations.