Toxicity assessment of pesticides and biopesticides on wild and managed bees (Hymenoptera, Apoidea), and richness evaluation in mediterranean and tropical agroecosystems

Bees (Hymenoptera, Apoidea) are the main pollinator insects for wild and cultivated plants, being of crucial environmental and economic importance. Their global decline, driven by anthropogenic factors, including the use of synthetic pesticides, is an alarming concern. Biopesticides can be a viable alternative for the protection of cultivated plants due to their high selectivity and short environmental persistence. Despite their natural origin, biopesticides can cause lethal and sublethal effects on non-target organisms. During this PhD project, we studied the toxicity of synthetic pesticides and biopesticides on wild and managed bees, using different products marketed in Mediterranean and tropical areas, and some nanoformulations of essential oils (EOs) tested on pests but not yet commercialized. Lethal and sublethal effects caused by pesticides commonly used in Italian and Brazilian agroecosystems, including greenhouses, were evaluated, with particular attention to some biopesticides of botanical origin, such as EOs. Synthetic and botanical pesticides caused lethal and sublethal effects on social (honeybees, bumblebees, Neotropical stingless bees), and solitary bees. Specifically, EOs caused lethal effects after topical and oral exposure to Apis mellifera, Bombus terrestris, Osmia bicornis, and Melipona mondury. Changes in feeding behavior and locomotor alterations caused by exposure to EOs were observed on the stingless bee M. mondury. Commonly used pesticides and biopesticides caused reduced survival of ground-nesting wild bees of Andrena and Eucera species, and altered the locomotor behavior of managed bees. Synthetic insecticides used to protect greenhouse tomato plants reduced the survival and caused changes in feeding behavior, and midgut alterations in B. terrestris. These results may be important for the appropriate use of pesticides and biopesticides in integrated pest and pollinator management, providing crucial data for the conservation of pollinating insects. In addition, populations of wild bees were studied in two tree crops in Southern Italy, one Mediterranean (almond) and one tropical (mango), comparing species richness and abundance between integrated and organic management. Keywords: ecotoxicology; social bees; solitary bees; lethal effects; sublethal effects; essential oils; management; almond; mango exposure; integrated pest and pollinator.

Grantor dc:publisher

Universidade Federal de Viçosa

Year dc:date.issued

2025

Author dc:creator

• Catania, Roberto

Advisor dc:contributor.advisor

• Siqueira, Maria Augusta Lima

Contributors dc:contributor

• Martins, Gustavo Ferreira
• Mazzeo, Gaetana
• Bernardes, Rodrigo Cupertino

• Abelhas - Efeito dos inseticidas
• Inseticidas - Toxicologia
• Essências e óleos essenciais

Statement dc:rights

• Acesso Aberto

Language dc:language.iso

eng

DOI

https://doi.org/10.47328/ufvbbt.2025.199

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:locus.ufv.br:123456789/35155