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Journal of Pharmacognosy and Phytochemistry

Journal of Pharmacognosy and Phytochemistry

Vol. 7, Issue 6 (2018)

Effect of neonicotinoids on Apis mellifera under field and semifield conditions

Author(s):

Harish Kumar Sharma, Budhi Ram, Kiran Rana and Meena Thakur

Abstract:
The decline of honeybees is a current cause of concern globally. A major factor implicated in their decline is exposure to agricultural chemicals, particularly neonicotinoid insecticides. Here, we assess the effects of neonicotinoids on honey bees mortality as they foraged on treated mustard bloom under field and semi field conditions. Neonicotinoid insecticides were sprayed on mustard at 50 percent bloom under field (thiamethoxam 0.1g/l) and semifield (thiamethoxam 0.1g/l and imidacloprid 0.3ml/l) conditions. The results obtained under semifield conditions showed significantly higher mortality on 1st and 2nd day after spray of thiamethoxam (293 and 231.83 bees/DBT/day) and the same trend was also recorded in imidaclprid (70.17 and 74 bees) spray in comparision to control (4.17 and 9.83). The mortality in both the insecticidal treatments reduced significantly after 3rd day of spray, suggesting avoidance of foraging on treated crop by honeybees. Similarly under field conditions, the average bee mortality of A. mellifera was significantly higher on 1st (112.50 bees/DBT/day) 2nd (112 bees) and 3rd day (46.33 bees) after spray in comparison to mortality observed in control. The overall mortality of A. mellifera exposed to the insecticidal treatments under both the conditions was recorded higher in comparison to control. These data demonstrate that there is a risk to honey bees from systemic residues in nectar and pollen following the spray of neonicotinoids during flowering period.

Pages: 59-63  |  1475 Views  231 Downloads


Journal of Pharmacognosy and Phytochemistry Journal of Pharmacognosy and Phytochemistry
How to cite this article:
Harish Kumar Sharma, Budhi Ram, Kiran Rana and Meena Thakur. Effect of neonicotinoids on Apis mellifera under field and semifield conditions. J Pharmacogn Phytochem 2018;7(6):59-63.

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