Effects of Insecticides, Fungicides, and Adjuvant Combinations on Honey Bee Brood Development
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Date
2019-05
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The Ohio State University
Abstract
California’s almond industry is responsible for producing the majority of the world’s almonds, and America’s honey bee colonies provide valuable pollination services to these orchards. Various fungicides, insecticides, and adjuvants are used to minimize crop damage from various diseases and pests. Recent research has demonstrated that these preventative treatments negatively impact colony health, especially by increasing brood mortality. This is problematic for beekeepers and the almond industry who rely on strong, healthy colonies.
In this study honey bee larvae were reared to adulthood, feeding them a treated diet simulating exposure to commonly used chemicals. First, an organosilicone-based nonionic methylated seed oil known as Dyne-Amic was added in various concentrations to the royal jelly diet to create a dose-response curve. The LC50 was determined to be 1.9x lower than the recommended field application rate for Dyne-Amic. Second, a sublethal dose of Dyne-Amic was combined with sublethal doses of an insecticide, a fungicide, or both to observe any compounding effects. Preliminary results showed no increase in mortality resulting from a mixture of the insecticide, fungicide, and Dyne-Amic. Only sublethal concentrations were used in these trials, and ongoing trials will expand the concentration exposure.
The results of this research are important for the almond growers in California, as well as any agricultural practice that utilizes combinations of pesticides, fungicides, and adjuvants. Particularly for almond growers, understanding these chemical interactions can help improve the efficiency of bee pollination services and protect honey bee health. Product label application instructions may be refined for common insecticides, fungicides, and the surfactant Dyne-Amic as a result of these findings.
Description
3rd place at 3-Minute Thesis Competition at Autumn Undergraduate Research Festival
2nd place at Denman Undergraduate Research Forum
1st place at CFAES Undergraduate Research Forum
2nd place at American Bee Research Conference
2nd place at Denman Undergraduate Research Forum
1st place at CFAES Undergraduate Research Forum
2nd place at American Bee Research Conference