Contrasting effects of fungicide and herbicide active ingredients and their formulations on bumblebee learning and behaviour.

ABSTRACT: Fungicides and herbicides are two of the most heavily applied pesticide classes in the world, but receive little research attention with regards to their potential impacts on bees. As they are not designed to target insects, the mechanisms behind potential impacts of these pesticides are unclear. It is therefore important to understand their influence at a range of levels, including sublethal impacts on behaviours such as learning. We used the proboscis extension reflex (PER) paradigm to assess how the herbicide glyphosate and the fungicide prothioconazole affect bumblebee olfactory learning. We also assessed responsiveness, and compared the impacts of these active ingredients and their respective commercial formulations (Roundup Biactive and Proline). We found that learning was not impair

SUBMITTER: Thompson LJ 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC10112909 | biostudies-literature | 2023 Mar

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature