The role pesticides play in honey bee health decline is a complex, multi-faceted problem that includes both direct and indirect effects of exposure and their potential to interact with other abiotic (weather events, migratory stress) and biotic (nutrition, mites, pathogens) stressors. Forging bees exposed to pesticides may return and transfer pesticides from their environment into the hive where nestmates and offspring are exposed through contaminated foods as well as through contact with contaminated bees and beeswax. Direct oral, contact, or inhalation exposure to some compounds may lead to mortality but individual bee losses may or may not result in immediate colony loss. Sub-lethal and indirect effects on colony functions caused by chemical over-loading of bees include effects such as delayed larval development, higher rates of queen failure, and increased susceptibility to other pests and pathogens. Identifying colonies failing due to pesticide exposure is not readily clear because the toxicokinetics (distribution of residues within the hive) and toxicodynamics (how hive bees encounter residues and potential impacts) are heavily influenced by the unique distribution of hive tasks and resources among these social insects. Additionally, from contaminants in air particles and pesticide-laden soil conditioners to leaching from damaged effluent lagoons, the numerous point sources increase risk and complexity of non-target exposures and presents many research challenges. However, this example also provides novel opportunities to better understand the short- and long-term effects and broader ecological impacts of widespread systemic pesticide pollution on pollinators in a natural field setting.

Identifying routes of exposure and colony-level effects on honey bees from systemic pesticide pollution associated with processing pesticide-treated seeds through ethanol production in Nebraska

Fall 2022 abstracts, posters, and presentations will launch in mid-September.

ACS Fall 2022

The official archive and repository for all ACS Meetings & Expositions abstracts and select posters or presentations.