Pollinators are keystones of both agricultural and natural ecosystems and vital to agriculture and food security. Over 3,600 species of bees are known to inhabit the United States. Among those, the honey bee Apis mellifera is the most used pollinator; however, several other species are managed and extensively used for orchard, field crop, and greenhouse pollination. Grave concerns over decline of bees is warranted, given that wild pollinators significantly increase crop productivity even in the presence of honey bees. Populations of honey bees and other pollinators have documented declines. In order to promote the health of pollinators, factors impacting their health need to be defined. Implicated drivers of decline include climate change, pesticides, habitat loss, parasites, diseases, competition from exotics, and interactions of these factors. Much focus has been placed on the active ingredients of pesticides; however, other agrochemicals may play a role in decreased bee health. Adjuvants are used in tank mixing to enhance pesticide efficacy; and, in particular, the use of globally-marketed organosilicone (OSS) spray adjuvants has increased in the United States. Detected in pollen, wax, and bees, OSS has been shown to impair honey bee learning, cause toxicity to honey bee workers, and synergize with viral pathogens. In this talk, new data will be presented detailing exposure levels for honey bees. Results will be presented from experiments testing the impacts of OSS on colony health of honey bees and impacts on other types of bees (bumble bees and solitary bees). In addition, data will be presented on assessing impacts of the OSS via different exposure routes (pollen/nectar sources vs. foliar exposure) for the alfalfa leafcutting bee, Megachile rotundata.

Pollinators as keystones of agriculture and natural ecosystems: Impact of organosilicone spray adjuvants on their health and reproduction

2019 Fall National Meeting

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