Ethomics for Ecotoxicology: Automated Tracking Reveals Diverse Effects of Insecticides on Bumble Bee Foraging and...

Area of Science:

• Ecology
• Entomology
• Environmental Toxicology

Background:

• Insect pollinators are vital for biodiversity and agriculture, but declining populations threaten these services.
• Sublethal insecticide exposure negatively impacts pollinator health and behavior, yet comprehensive assessment remains challenging.
• Gaps in understanding how insecticides affect complex insect behaviors limit effective risk assessment.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the sublethal effects of flupyradifurone and imidacloprid on bumble bee behavior using high-throughput ethomics.
• To assess the holistic impacts of these insecticides on both nest and foraging behaviors under naturalistic conditions.
• To evaluate the potential of automated behavioral quantification for rapid pesticide risk assessment.

Main Methods:

• Utilized automated, computer vision-based tracking on open-source hardware (Raspberry Pis) for high-throughput behavioral quantification (ethomics).
• Simultaneously monitored uniquely tagged individual bumble bees (Bombus impatiens) within nests and during foraging in a semi-field environment.
• Quantified effects of flupyradifurone and imidacloprid on activity, spatial behavior, foraging, and floral preference.

Main Results:

• Both insecticides increased mortality risk and altered bumble bee behavior, with distinct effects.
• Imidacloprid decreased nest activity, while flupyradifurone altered spatial distribution within the nest.
• Imidacloprid reduced foraging activity, and both insecticides affected floral preference.

Conclusions:

• Sublethal insecticide exposure has complex, context-dependent effects on bumble bee behavior and health.
• High-throughput ethomics enables rapid, holistic assessment of pesticide risks under realistic conditions.
• Findings can inform sustainable agriculture and pollinator conservation strategies.