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Assessing Agrochemical Risk to Mated Honey Bee Queens
Published on: March 3, 2021
Fenitrothion impairs honey bee physiological processes and learning ability at field levels
Jiasen Wang1, Chujian Ma2, Zachary Y Huang3
1College of Plant Protection, Hunan Agricultural University, Changsha 410128, China; Key Laboratory of Pesticide Assessment, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Hunan Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Changsha 410125, China; Yuelushan Laboratory, Changsha 410128, China.
Pesticide Biochemistry and Physiology
|July 23, 2026
Summary
Chronic exposure to fenitrothion (FNT) insecticide impairs honey bee learning, memory, and gut health. This organophosphate disrupts detoxification pathways and inhibits acetylcholinesterase activity, impacting bee physiology and behavior.
Area of Science:
- Environmental toxicology
- Apiculture science
- Insect toxicology
Background:
- Organophosphate insecticides like fenitrothion (FNT) are vital for pest control.
- However, their chronic effects on non-target organisms, particularly pollinators like honey bees, are not fully understood.
- Understanding these impacts is crucial for pollinator conservation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the chronic effects of field-realistic fenitrothion exposure on honey bee survival, behavior, physiology, and molecular mechanisms.
- To identify specific physiological and molecular targets affected by fenitrothion.
Main Methods:
- Honey bees were chronically exposed to 50 μg/kg FNT.
- Evaluated survival, food consumption, body weight, sucrose responsiveness, learning, and memory.
- Analyzed gut pathology, gut microbiota, detoxification enzyme activity, and head transcriptome.
- Utilized molecular docking and enzymatic assays to assess target interactions.
Main Results:
- Fenitrothion exposure did not significantly alter survival or body weight but increased sugar consumption.
- Impaired sucrose responsiveness, learning, and memory were observed.
- Significant alterations in gut microbial composition, disrupted midgut morphology, and dysregulated gene expression in energy metabolism and detoxification pathways were found.
- Fenitrothion inhibited acetylcholinesterase (AChE) activity, consistent with molecular docking predictions.
Conclusions:
- Field-realistic fenitrothion concentrations negatively impact honey bee health and behavior through multiple physiological disruptions.
- Key mechanisms include gut pathology, microbial imbalance, impaired energy metabolism, and acetylcholinesterase inhibition.
- Findings provide critical insights for honey bee protection and sustainable insecticide use.
