A common pesticide decreases foraging success and survival in honey bees

Science. 2012 Apr 20;336(6079):348-50. doi: 10.1126/science.1215039. Epub 2012 Mar 29.

Abstract

Nonlethal exposure of honey bees to thiamethoxam (neonicotinoid systemic pesticide) causes high mortality due to homing failure at levels that could put a colony at risk of collapse. Simulated exposure events on free-ranging foragers labeled with a radio-frequency identification tag suggest that homing is impaired by thiamethoxam intoxication. These experiments offer new insights into the consequences of common neonicotinoid pesticides used worldwide.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Bees / drug effects*
  • Bees / physiology*
  • Colony Collapse*
  • Feeding Behavior
  • Female
  • Homing Behavior / drug effects*
  • Insecticides / toxicity*
  • Male
  • Neonicotinoids
  • Nitro Compounds / toxicity*
  • Oxazines / toxicity*
  • Population Dynamics
  • Radio Frequency Identification Device
  • Risk Factors
  • Thiamethoxam
  • Thiazoles / toxicity*

Substances

  • Insecticides
  • Neonicotinoids
  • Nitro Compounds
  • Oxazines
  • Thiazoles
  • Thiamethoxam