Summary
This field study examined how multi-pesticide exposure during development affects honey bee queen reproductive health using wax and pollen treatments reflecting commercial colony residue levels. Whilst pesticide-treated wax had no observable impact on queen phenotype, colonies exposed to pesticide-treated pollen showed reduced capacity for viable queen production, lower sperm viability in surviving queens, and decreased brood viability in colonies subsequently established by these queens. The findings suggest that colony-level pesticide exposure indirectly compromises queen quality through social mechanisms, as royal jelly from treated-pollen colonies contained negligible pesticide residues.
Regional applicability
The study was conducted in the United States and used in-hive residue levels representative of commercial colonies there. The findings are potentially relevant to United Kingdom beekeeping, as similar pesticide residue profiles may occur in UK commercial apiaries, though UK-specific residue data and bee strain differences should be considered when applying these results to UK practice and apiary health management.
Key measures
Queen phenotype parameters, sperm viability, viable queen production capacity, mating number, brood viability, pesticide residues in royal jelly and beeswax, Hazard Quotient
Outcomes reported
The study measured effects of developmental pesticide exposure (via wax and pollen) on queen phenotypes, including sperm viability, viable queen production capacity, and subsequent colony growth and brood viability. Pesticide-treated pollen reduced viable queen production and lowered sperm viability in surviving queens, whilst treated wax had no measurable effects.
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