Laboratory bioassays on the impact of cadmium, copper and lead on the development and survival of honeybee (Apis mellifera L.) larvae and foragers

• Published in: Chemosphere (Oxford) Vol. 152; pp. 530 - 538
• Main Authors: Di, Ning, Hladun, Kristen R., Zhang, Kai, Liu, Tong-Xian, Trumble, John T.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England Elsevier Ltd 01.06.2016
• Subjects: Accumulation; Animals; Apis mellifera; Bees - drug effects; Bees - growth & development; Bees - metabolism; Biological Assay; Cadmium - pharmacokinetics; Cadmium - toxicity; Copper - pharmacokinetics; Copper - toxicity; Larva - drug effects; Larva - growth & development; Larva - metabolism; LC50; Lead - pharmacokinetics; Lead - toxicity; Pollinators; Pollution; Relative growth index; Toxicity Tests, Acute; LC50; Pollution; Relative growth index; Accumulation; Pollinators; LC
• ISSN: 0045-6535; 1879-1298
• DOI: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2016.03.033

Honeybees (Apis mellifera L.) have been widely distributed around the world to serve as pollinators for agriculture. They can encounter metal pollutants through various routes of exposure, including foraging on contaminated plant resources. Chronic and acute toxicity tests were conducted on larvae using artificial diets and on foragers using solutions of 50% sucrose, which contained cadmium (Cd), copper (Cu) and lead (Pb). We found that mortality increased in both larvae and foragers in a dose-dependent manner. Control larvae had higher relative growth indices (RGI) from day 6 to day 10 compared to all metal treatments, demonstrating substantial negative effects of metals on development. Copper was the least toxic to larvae with an LC50 of 6.97 mg L−1. For foragers, Pb had the highest LC50, which was 345 mg L−1. Foragers and larvae accumulated substantial quantities of all metals, and subsequent sucrose consumption decreased after dosing. Overall, honeybee larvae and foragers suffered detrimental effects when they were exposed to ecologically-relevant concentrations of Cd, Cu and Pb. •Metals such as Cd, Cu and Pb occur in honey bee hives through different routes.•Lethal and sublethal effects of Cd, Cu and Pb were tested individually.•Ingestion of metals by larvae caused detrimental effects on growth.•Both larvae and foragers showed higher body burdens when eating metal-containing nectar.