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Toxicological impact of certain pesticides on honeybee, Apis melliferea L. (Hymenoptera: Apidae) under laboratory conditions

Research Authors
Mohammed A.A. Saad; Aly A. Abd-Ella; Gamal A.M. AbduAllah; Hosam A. Ezz El-Din; Hend A. Mahmoud; Ahmed M. M. Ahmed
Research Abstract

Honeybees are exposed to pesticides direct or indirect ways through their food research trips.  Herein, this study examined the toxicity effects in the laboratory of seven tested pesticide insecticides from different pesticide groups. emamectin benzoate, imidacloprid, chlorpyrifos, indoxacarb, lambada cyhalothrine, glyphosate, and thiophanate-methyl on honeybee workers, Apis mellifera L. through different exposure periods of time at 24,48, and72 hours. The selected pesticides were ranked based on their toxicity from the most to least one as follows: emamectin benzoate, imidacloprid, chlorpyrifos, indoxacarb, and lambda cyhalothrine. Further, thiophanate-methyl and glyphosate were the lowest toxicity among selected pesticides. The highest toxic pesticide during the exposure period 24,48 and72 hrs was emamectin benzoate with LC50 values(0.247,0.047 and 0.020 ppm) and with LC90 values(5.752,0.302 and0.072ppm) respectively, and the least one was glyphosate with LC50 values of (6861.151,3366.968 and 2477.267ppm) and LC90 values of (28243.795, 9033.695 and 6203.485ppm) after 24, 48 and 72hr of exposure respectively. However, chlorpyrifos ranked the third toxic pesticide at 24 and 48 hrs of treatment with LC50 values of 10.226and2.731ppm and with LC90 values of (101.224 and 7.496ppm for24 and48 hrs, respectively). Whereas, after 72 hrs chlorpyrifos was recorded as the fourth toxic pesticide with LC502.086ppm and LC90 5.179ppm. Based on the toxicity index, results showed that the most to least toxic pesticides were arranged as follows: emamectin benzoate>imidacloprid >chlorpyrifos >indoxacarb>lambada cyhalothrine> thiophanate -methyl > glyphosate. These results demonstrated that pesticides are very toxic to honeybee workers and must avoid applying them when bees are most active such as during flowering periods.

Research Date
Research Department
Research Journal
Assiut Journal of Agriculture Science
Research Member
Research Publisher
Faculty of Agriculture, Assiut University
Research Rank
Q4
Research Vol
54
Research Website
https://ajas.journals.ekb.eg/?_action=article&issue=40105&sb=73&_sb=Plant+Protection
Research Year
2023
Research Pages
65-77