The Current Status of the Science as it Relates to Pesticides and their Impacts on Bee Health Dr. Dan Schmehl

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1 The Current Status of the Science as it Relates to Pesticides and their Impacts on Bee Health Dr. Dan Schmehl University of Florida Honey Bee Research and Extension Laboratory

2 Current Status of Pollinators The contribution of most pollinators (bees, wasps, others) to pollination is not well described Evidence of global declines in species richness and abundance The European honey bee is the most managed pollinator worldwide Most wild and feral colonies nonexistent across Europe and the US Potts et al Global pollinator declines: trends, impacts and drivers

3 Economic Impact 149 million lbs of honey produced by 2.64 million colonies in US (NASS 2014). Last year, the net worth of honey was 316 million USD. 15 billion USD added to agriculture industry nationally % of world s food production is dependent on honey bees

4 Bee Informed Partnership Monitoring colony health across thousands of beekeepers to find trends towards better beekeeping practices Several tech teams throughout the U.S

5 % total colony winter losses Annual Declines Reported By Bee Informed Partnership 40% 35% 30% 25% 20% 15% 10% 5% 0% Managed honey bee colony losses in the US 7,183 US beekeepers managing 564,522 colonies 21.3% of US colonies 8 year average of 30% winter loss Several colony losses attributed to CCD However the majority of losses are attributed to pesticides, Varroa mites, and failing queens

6 # colonies (in millions) Number of honey producing colonies in the United States since 1939 (NASS 2014) year

7 # Colonies (in millions) Honey Producing Colonies in the US ( ) % +1.0% +7.8% +1.9% +4.0% % -1.7% +2.1% +6.7% -7.5% % -0.9% % Year Data from USDA- National Agricultural Statistics Service % change since 2000 = 0.8% increase

8 Several Factors Impact Honey Bee Health Nutrition Food Source Microbial Community Pathogens Viruses Bacteria Nosema sp. Climate HONEY BEE HEALTH Parasites Varroa Small Hive Beetle Hive Management Maintenance Queen Source Queen Mating Pesticides Agriculture Use In-Hive Miticides

9 Chemical toxins in the environment Honey Bees: visit flowers of all kinds visit bird feeders, animal feed bins, etc. visit bird baths, pools, streams, rivers, ponds, lakes have been known to collect paint, glue, any sticky substance, etc.

10 As honey bees forage: 3-5 miles It only takes one colony to pollinate all of Missoula! (27.67 miles 2 ) A circle with a 3-5 mi. radius encompasses ~28-79 miles 2

11 Sanchez-Bayo and Goka, Pesticide Residues and Bees- A Risk Assessment 161 different pesticides have been detected in the hive Pesticides detected in hive products: Pollen: 124 Wax: 95 Honey/Nectar: 77 The pesticides detected include: Insecticides: 83 Fungicides: 40 Herbicides: 27 Acaricides: 10 Synergists: 1 Raj SIngh

12 Pesticide use in the US Agricultural: Systemic- Absorbed and travel through the plant Contact- Directly applied to and reside on the surface Residential: Household applications Beekeeper: In-hive miticide use USDA- National Science Laboratory Gastonia, NC

13 Pollen pesticide residue load YEAR (# of samples) miticides + fungicides miticides fungicides insecticides herbicides neonics syn pyrethroids OP's (275) 93% 25% 68% 6% 1% 0.3% 0.7% 2% 2009 (274) 81% 4% 77% 18% 0.9% 0.8% 0.2% 16% 2010 (99) 87% 1% 86% 12% 0.4% 0.04% 0.2% 4% 2011 (131) 95% 64% 31% 3% 2% 0.4% 0.2% 2% 2012 (382) 90% 42% 47% 10% 0.6% 0.2% 3% 1.4% 2013 (510) 78% 51% 27% 12% 10% 1% 2% 1.4% 2014 (310) 87% 64% 23% 11% 2% 0.06% 1% 3%

14 Pesticide use in the US Agricultural- $4.1 billion spent annually Systemic- Absorbed and travel through the plant Contact- Directly applied and reside on the surface Residential- Household applications Lawn Care, landscape plants, gardening Beekeeper- In-hive miticide use USDA- National Science Laboratory Gastonia, NC

15 What pesticide residues are present in urban/suburban hive locations? Pollen and Nectar Collections across 3 states Florida, California, Michigan Monthly collections from 15 colonies for a year 12 collections in FL, ~6-8 in CA, MI Pollen/Nectar residue analysis: USDA-NSL Pollen Identification: Texas A&M Land Use Patterns: Ardea Consulting

16 Florida Sampling Locations TAMPA ORLANDO

17 Pesticide Effects on Honey Bee Adults and Larvae Effects on survival of imature stages and adults include: Development (Wu et al., 2011) Midgut cell death (Gregorc and Ellis, 2011) Longevity (Wu et al., 2011, Zhu et al. 2014) Learning and memory (Decourtye et al., 2003, 2004) Behavior (Yang et al., 2008; Decourtye et al., 2011; Henry et al., 2012)

18 What are the effects of field-relevant pesticide concentrations on larval survival and development? Pesticide Class Solvent Pollen conc. (ppb) Wax conc. (ppb) Amitraz acaricide acetone Coumaphos acaricide acetone Chrorothalonil fungicide acetone Chlorpyrifos insecticide acetone Fluvalinate acaricide acetone Glyphosate herbicide water Imidacloprid insecticide water Mullin et al, th percentile concentrations Wu, Anelli, Sheppard, average of detected concentrations Krupke et al, average of detected concentrations

19 In vitro Rearing Technique

20 Bees fed pesticides at concentrations found in pollen had a reduction in survival a a a a b b b b c

21 Bees fed pesticides at concentrations found in pollen had a reduction in survival

22 Comparison of control vs treatment on 7 th day Control Pesticide Chlorothalonil No mortality Uniform size Diet Consumed High mortality Unequal size Diet remains within some cups

23 Larvae exposed to amitraz, chlorothalonil, and chlorpyrifos exhibited a reduction in weight a a a a ab ab b b b Pollen Concentrations

24 Honey bee development pollen concentrations No effects on development Delays on pupation and adult emergence

25 Data still to come! How are pesticides affecting the bee s ability to resist other stressors during larval development? - Measure the level of activity of detoxification and stress response genes Are pesticides degrading the epithelial lining of the midgut, increasing susceptibility to pathogens and parasites? Measure cell death in the midgut Are pesticides altering the behavioral development of the larvae? Measure the size of the hypopharyngeal glands

26 Non-target effects of methionine Methionine Amino acid with insecticidal properties when consumed Binds to amino acid transporter Initially found to control caterpillar pests Proposed use for mosquito control in aquatic systems

27 Methionine toxicity Mosquito toxicity Culex and Aedes 0.5% Anopheles 0.05% No toxicity in adult honey bees 1% topical applied to thorax (Capsil) 1% chronic oral (sucrose) 1% acute oral (sucrose)

28 Methionine Larval Toxicity

29 What research projects are currently addressing the pesticide risk to pollinators? What pesticide residues are being found in the larval diet? Is chronic pesticide exposure reducing adult longevity and the ability to overwinter? What is the interaction between pesticide exposure and other routes of stress? Nutrition deprivation Varroa/Nosema What are effect of systemic pesticides on honey bee health Neonicotinoid use

30 Thank you for your time! Phone: