Effect of oral exposure to the acaricide pirimicarb, a new varroacide candidate, on Apis mellifera feeding rate

• Published in: Pest management science Vol. 74; no. 8; pp. 1790 - 1797
• Main Authors: Riva, Clémence, Sokolowski, Michel BC, Normand, Julien, Santos, Jana Sopkova‐de Oliveira, Halm‐Lemeille, Marie‐Pierre
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Chichester, UK John Wiley & Sons, Ltd 01.08.2018; Wiley Subscription Services, Inc; Wiley
• Subjects: acaricide; Acaricides; acetylcholinesterase; Animal behavior; Apiculture; Apis mellifera; Beekeeping; Bees; Chronic effects; Ectoparasites; Environmental Sciences; Essential oils; Exposure; Feeding; Feeding behavior; Food intake; Long-term effects; Organic acids; Organic chemistry; Pesticides; pirimicarb; Pollutant removal; Seasonal variations; Sucrose; Sugar; Toxicology; Varroa destructor management; Varroa destructor management; acaricide; acetylcholinesterase; Apis Mellifera; pirimicarb; Apis mellifera
• ISSN: 1526-498X; 1526-4998
• DOI: 10.1002/ps.4876

BACKGROUND The ectoparasitic honey bee mite Varroa destructor is a main cause of the gradual decline in honey bees Apis mellifera. Beekeepers currently utilize a wide range of different synthetic acaricides, organic acids and essential oils to keep mite populations under control. Previous work has indicated that pirimicarb may be a new varroacide candidate. The aim of this study was to observe chronic effects on feeding activity in worker honey bees after oral exposure to 1.05 mm pirimicarb. The long‐term effects of 24 h exposure to pirimicarb were also tested. RESULTS After three successive trials, no mortality could be detected at the tested concentration, although oral exposure to pirimicarb had a significant effect on honey bees feeding behavior. Pirimicarb added to a sucrose solution led to a rapid decrease in food intake. These tendencies may be reversed when the pesticide is removed. However, recovery seemed to be trial dependent. CONCLUSION This study highlights seasonal variation in honey bee susceptibility, which should be considered in toxicology studies. © 2018 Society of Chemical Industry This article presents results on the effects of pirimicarb on honey bee feeding behavior. After three successive trials, no mortality could be detected at the tested concentration, but oral exposure to pirimicarb had a significant effect on honey bee feeding behavior.