Monitoring studies have documented detection of neonicotinoid insecticides in pollinator-attractive habitat, including pollen collected by foraging bees, in sites adjacent to crop fields planted with treated seed. Bees and monarch larvae could be exposed to neonicotinoids through consumption of contaminated pollen/nectar or milkweed leaves, respectively. Although previous studies indicate neonicotinoids can be detected in pollinator-attractive habitats, the magnitude and extent of potential adverse effects to honey bees, native bees and monarch larvae is an active area of investigation. In this study, we developed and validated an innovative method to simultaneously evaluate concentrations of clothianidin, imidacloprid, and thiamethoxam, and two imidacloprid metabolites (5-hydroxy imidacloprid and imidacloprid olefin) in plant foliage and pollen. We are using the method to analyze leaf and pollen samples collected in 2017 and 2018 from habitat patches immediately downslope of corn and soybean fields planted with neonicotinoid-treated seeds. Preliminary data shows concentrations of neonicotinoids ranging from 0.04 to 12.9 ng/g leaf tissue and 0.08 to 22.7 ng/g pollen. This data is refining pollinator risk assessments by providing information on spatio-temporal variability of neonicotinoid exposures in Midwestern agroecosystems.

Quantification of neonicotinoid residues in a pollinator attractive habitat

2019 Fall National Meeting

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