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Toxicity Testing in Animals

Toxicity Testing in Animals

Toxicity tests in animals are grounded on two main assumptions: first, the effects observed in laboratory animals can be extrapolated to humans, especially when adjusted for body surface area; second, high-dose exposure in animals is essential to identify potential human hazards from lower doses. This is based on the quantal dose-response concept, which faces the challenge of extrapolating results from relatively few test animals to much larger human populations. For example, a 0.01% incidence...

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Breaking the cycle: Reforming pesticide regulation to protect pollinators.

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Lethal and Sublethal Dose of Thiamethoxam and Its Effects on the Behavior of a Non-target Social Wasp.

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In vitro larval rearing protocol for the stingless bee species Melipona scutellaris for toxicological studies.

PloS one·2019

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Beyond Standard Protocols: Advanced Patented Technology for Comprehensive Toxicity Assessments in Neotropical Bees.

Adna Suelen Dorigo¹, Lucas Miotelo¹, Roberta Cornélio Ferreira Nocelli²

¹Department of General and Applied Biology, Biosciences Institute of Rio Claro, Sao Paulo State University (UNESP), Avenida 24-A, 1515, Rio Claro 13506-900, Brazil.

|April 27, 2026

Summary

Thiamethoxam pesticide significantly harmed stingless bee larvae (Melipona scutellaris and Scaptotrigona postica), causing mortality and developmental issues even at low doses. Larval stages appear more vulnerable than adults to this neonicotinoid insecticide.

Keywords:

Melipona scutellaris Scaptotrigona postica in vitro larval rearing method neonicotinoids risk assessment stingless bees thiamethoxam

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Area of Science:

Environmental Toxicology
Pollinator Health
Insect Physiology

Background:

Brazil possesses high stingless bee diversity, yet is a major pesticide user.
Neonicotinoid pesticides like thiamethoxam pose risks to non-target organisms, including pollinators.
Limited data exists on the specific impacts of thiamethoxam on stingless bee larvae.

Purpose of the Study:

To evaluate the in vitro effects of thiamethoxam on Melipona scutellaris and Scaptotrigona postica larvae.
To compare the sensitivity of larval stages to adult stages concerning thiamethoxam exposure.
To assess the efficacy of biomimetic technologies in pesticide risk evaluation for pollinators.

Main Methods:

Standardized in vitro protocols were employed to expose bee larvae to thiamethoxam.
Field-realistic doses (RD) and dilutions (RD/10, RD/100) of thiamethoxam were tested.
Patented biomimetic technologies were utilized for dose calculation and exposure simulation.

Main Results:

Thiamethoxam exposure caused significant larval mortality and developmental abnormalities in both species.
Melipona scutellaris larvae exhibited dose-dependent mortality, malformation, and reduced feeding.
Scaptotrigona postica larvae showed darkening, accelerated fungal growth, and 100% mortality at all tested doses.

Conclusions:

Larval stages of stingless bees are highly sensitive to thiamethoxam, more so than adults.
Current pesticide risk assessments may underestimate risks by not adequately considering larval sensitivity.
Validated experimental approaches are crucial for accurate environmental risk evaluation of pesticides impacting Neotropical pollinators.