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Interaction of Flupyradifurone and Deltamethrin, Two Pesticides Commonly Used for Plant Pest Control, in Honeybees

Authors :
Roberto Bava
Carmine Lupia
Fabio Castagna
Stefano Ruga
Saverio Nucera
Cristina Carresi
Rosamaria Caminiti
Rosa Maria Bulotta
Clara Naccari
Domenico Britti
Ernesto Palma
Source :
Animals, Vol 14, Iss 6, p 851 (2024)
Publication Year :
2024
Publisher :
MDPI AG, 2024.

Abstract

Nowadays, old-generation pesticides are released into ecosystems alongside new formulations, giving rise to pharmacological interactions (additive, synergistic, and antagonistic effects). The aim of this study was to evaluate the impact that simultaneous exposure to DMT and FLU doses has on bee health. Groups of twenty honeybees were housed in cages to compose six macro-groups. One group consisted of experimental replicates treated orally with a toxic dose of deltamenthrin (DMT 21.6 mg/L); two other groups were subjected to the oral administration of two toxic doses of flupyradifurone (FLU 50 mg/L and FLU 100 mg/L); and two other groups were intoxicated with a combination of the two pesticides (DMT 21.6 + FLU 50 and DMT 21.6 + FLU 100). The consequences of the pesticides’ interactions were highlighted by measuring and comparing data on survival, food consumption, and abnormal behavior. Generally speaking, antagonism between the two pesticides has been demonstrated. The bees were able to survive for up to three days at the lowest dosage of FLU (50 mg/L), with 46% of the subjects still alive; however, the maximum dose (100 mg/L) caused all treated animals to die as early as the second day. When DMT and FLU 50 were administered together, the group that received DMT alone had a lower survival rate. When comparing the survival rates produced by the DMT and FLU 50 combination to those of the group receiving FLU 50 alone, the same was clearly visible. While there was no statistically significant improvement observed when the survival indices of the DMT and FLU 100 combination were compared to those of the group intoxicated with DMT alone, an improvement in survival indices was observed when these were compared with the group intoxicated with FLU 100 alone.

Details

Language :
English
ISSN :
20762615
Volume :
14
Issue :
6
Database :
Directory of Open Access Journals
Journal :
Animals
Publication Type :
Academic Journal
Accession number :
edsdoj.8e0b0311045e3a834cb1a6f8bf26e
Document Type :
article
Full Text :
https://doi.org/10.3390/ani14060851