A method to assess agrochemical risk to mated honey bee queens

Authors: Fine, Julia; TORRES, KENDALL - University Of Illinois; MARTIN, JAMILYN - University Of Illinois; ROBINSON, GENE - University Of Illinois

Submitted to: Journal of Visualized Experiments
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 2/12/2021
Publication Date: 3/3/2021
Citation: Fine, J.D., Torres, K.M., Martin, J., Robinson, G.E. 2021. A method to assess agrochemical risk to mated honey bee queens. Journal of Visualized Experiments. 169. Article e62316. https://doi.org/10.3791/62316.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.3791/62316

Interpretive Summary: Assessing the risks of agrochemicals to honey bee pollinators involves laboratory tests performed on adult or immature worker bees, but these methods may not accurately capture the effects of agrochemical exposure on honey bee queens. Within a colony, honey bee queens are the sole producers of fertilized eggs and are arguably the most important single member of a functioning colony unit. Therefore, understanding how agrochemicals affect queens is critical to understanding pesticide impacts. Here, an adapted method is presented to expose honey bee queens and worker queen attendants to an agrochemical administered through worker diet, track egg production in the laboratory, and assess egg hatching using a specialized cage, referred to as a Queen Monitoring Cage. To illustrate the method’s intended use, results of an experiment in which worker queen attendants were fed diet containing sublethal doses of imidacloprid and effects on queens were monitored is described. The goal in developing this protocol was to enhance the understanding of how agrochemicals affect honey bee reproduction by establishing methods to expose honey bee queens and their worker caretakers to agrochemicals in a controlled, laboratory setting to carefully monitor relevant responses.

Technical Abstract: Current risk assessment strategies for honey bees rely heavily upon laboratory tests performed on adult or immature worker bees, but these methods may not accurately capture the effects of agrochemical exposure on honey bee queens. As the sole producer of fertilized eggs inside a honey bee colony, honey bee queens are arguably the most important single member of a functioning colony unit. Therefore, understanding how agrochemicals affect queen health and productivity should be considered a critical aspect of pesticide risk assessment. Here, an adapted method is presented to expose honey bee queens and worker queen attendants to agrochemical stressors administered through worker diet, track egg production in the laboratory, and assess first instar eclosion using a specialized cage, referred to as a Queen Monitoring Cage. To illustrate the method’s intended use, results of an experiment in which worker queen attendants were fed diet containing sublethal doses of imidacloprid and effects on queens were monitored is described.