Temporal entry of pesticides through pollen into the bee hive and their fate in beeswax.

ABSTRACT: Honey bees are often exposed to a variety of contaminants, including pesticides from agricultural use. The aim of this study was to investigate the temporal entry of pesticides into the hive by examining the seasonal timing of honey bees bringing pesticide-contaminated pollen into their colonies and the subsequent accumulation of these pesticides in beeswax. Pollen and beeswax samples were collected biweekly from five colonies situated in an agricultural environment in Switzerland. In pollen, 23 pesticides (out of 50) were quantified, including 4 insecticides, 4 herbicides, 12 fungicides, a transformation product, an acaricide, and a synergist. The maximal insecticide concentration levels measured in individual pollen samples were 69.4 μg/kg (thiacloprid), 48.3 μg/kg (acetamiprid), 13.8 μg

SUBMITTER: Kast C 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC11534837 | biostudies-literature | 2024 Nov

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature