Beyond brood: the potential impacts of insect growth disruptors on the long-term health and performance of honey bee colonies

Authors: Fine, Julia; Corby-Harris, Vanessa

Submitted to: Apidologie
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 2/4/2021
Publication Date: 3/18/2021
Citation: Fine, J.D., Corby-Harris, V.L. 2021. Beyond brood: the potential impacts of insect growth disruptors on the long-term health and performance of honey bee colonies. Apidologie. 52:580-595. https://doi.org/10.1007/s13592-021-00845-x.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s13592-021-00845-x

Interpretive Summary: As social insects and valued pollinators, threats to honey bees should be assessed by evaluating the effects of stress on the long-term health and productivity of the entire colony. Insect growth regulators are a class of pesticides that has been shown to affect development, reproduction, and behavior in honey bees. Therefore, it is imperative that their risks to honey bee pollinators be thoroughly evaluated. This review will describe the effects of insect growth regulators on honey bees at the individual and colony level, highlighting hazards associated with different chemistries, and will address their potential impacts on the longevity of colonies. Finally, recommendations for the direction of future research to identify strategies to mitigate effects will be prescribed.

Technical Abstract: Honey bees are valued pollinators of agricultural crops, and heavy losses reported by beekeepers have spurred efforts to identify causes. As social insects, threats to honey bees should be assessed by evaluating the effects of stress on the long-term health and productivity of the entire colony. Insect growth regulators are a class of pesticides encountered by honey bees that target pathways involved in insect development, reproduction, and behavior, and they have been shown to affect critical aspects of all three in honey bees. Therefore, it is imperative that their risks to honey bees be thoroughly evaluated. This review will describe the effects of insect growth regulators on honey bees at the individual and colony level, highlighting hazards associated with different chemistries, and will address their potential impacts on the longevity of colonies. Finally, recommendations for the direction of future research to identify strategies to mitigate effects will be prescribed.