Pesticide residues on milkweed and strawberry at small farms and non-target effects of two fungicides on monarch butterfly caterpillars.

ABSTRACT: Concern over insect declines has increased attention on the effects of pesticide residues on native insects. We collected strawberry (target) and common milkweed (non-target) foliage and flowers on two small Central New York farms, within crop fields as well as field margins, and analyzed the tissues for pesticide residues of 94 agrochemicals. We found quantifiable levels of 13 fungicides, herbicides, and insecticides, mostly at low concentrations (typically less than 200 ppb where detected), and more often on strawberry than milkweed. We generally found higher pesticide residue levels early in the season (June vs. July) and on leaves compared to flowers. Residue levels in fields did not differ strongly from margins but pesticide drift may have left low-level residues on milkweed le

SUBMITTER: Hastings AP 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12903895 | biostudies-literature | 2026

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature