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ARS Home » Pacific West Area » Albany, California » Western Regional Research Center » Invasive Species and Pollinator Health » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #405663
Research Project: Conduct Longitudinal Studies on Colony Performance and Explore Near-term Effects of Nutritional and Agrochemical Stressors on Honey Bee Health

Location: Invasive Species and Pollinator Health

Title: Trisiloxane surfactants negatively affect reproductive behaviors and enhance viral replication in honey bees

Author
item Fine, Julia
item Cox-Foster, Diana
item MOOR, KYLE - Utah State University
item CHEN, RUIWEN - University Of Pittsburgh
item Avalos, Arian

Submitted to: Ecotoxicology and Environmental Safety
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 1/5/2024
Publication Date: 10/20/2023
Citation: Fine, J.D., Cox-Foster, D.L., Moor, K., Chen, R., Avalos, A. 2023. Trisiloxane surfactants negatively affect reproductive behaviors and enhance viral replication in honey bees. Ecotoxicology and Environmental Safety. 43/222-223. https://doi.org/10.1002/etc.5771.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1002/etc.5771

Interpretive Summary: Trisiloxane surfactant containing adjuvants (TSSs) are often applied to blooming crops including almonds, exposing the managed honey bees used for pollination of these crops and persisting in colony resources like pollen/bee bread. Despite this, little is known regarding the effects of TSSs on important aspects of colony health like reproduction. Here, we examine how exposure to field relevant concentrations of TSSs found in commonly used adjuvant products affect queen egg laying, worker interactions with the queen, and worker susceptibility to viral pathogens. Our results demonstrate that TSSs can negatively affect queen egg laying and susceptibility to Deformed Wing Virus in workers, suggesting that TSS use while honey bees are foraging may negatively impact colony longevity and growth.

Technical Abstract: Trisiloxane surfactants (TSSs) are often applied in formulated adjuvant products to blooming crops including almonds, exposing the managed honey bees used for pollination of these crops and persisting in colony matrices like bee bread. Despite this, little is known regarding the effects of TSSs on important aspects of colony health like reproduction. Here, we use laboratory assays to examine how exposure to field relevant concentrations of TSSs found in commonly used adjuvant formulations affect queen oviposition rates, worker interactions with the queen, and worker susceptibility to endogenous viral pathogens. Our results demonstrate that TSSs can negatively affect queen oviposition and replication of Deformed Wing Virus in workers, suggesting that TSS use while honey bees are foraging may negatively impact colony longevity and growth.