Evaluation of the lethal and sublethal effects of the flupyradifurone molecule and polystyrene microparticles on foraging bees of Frieseomelitta varia (Lepeletier, 1836)

• Grant number: 25/10317-9
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Doctorate
• Start date: September 01, 2025
• End date: March 31, 2029
• Field of knowledge: Biological Sciences - Zoology - Applied Zoology
• Principal Investigator: Osmar Malaspina
• Grantee: Lais Vieira Bello Inoue
• Host Institution: Instituto de Biociências (IB). Universidade Estadual Paulista (UNESP). Campus de Rio Claro. Rio Claro , SP, Brazil

Abstract

Bees are the main pollinating insects, being essential for biodiversity and human nutrition. However, several stressors threaten the health and survival of these individuals, such as pesticides and microplastics. In this context, ecotoxicological studies are of fundamental importance for advancing knowledge of the impacts generated by contaminants and the conservation of native species. Considering this perspective, the present study aims to elucidate the effects on survival, behavior, nuclear activity, immunity, detoxification and cellular stress of the insecticide flupyradifurone and polystyrene microparticles, in isolation and in combination, in foraging bees of Frieseomelitta varia. For this purpose, foraging individuals will be collected and divided into experimental groups according to their diet, based on sucrose solutions, as follows: control (1:1 water/sugar), flupyradifurone, polystyrene and flupyradifurone + polystyrene (combined foods) (n=60 individuals per experimental group). Survival analysis will consist of observations at 24-hour intervals until the mortality of the last individual. Afterwards, a second bioassay will be performed to obtain behavioral data, using the Ethoflow® software and nuclear activity by fluorescence microscopy. In addition, the determination of the effects of contaminants on immunity, detoxification and response to cellular stress will be performed by molecular qPCR analyses. The results obtained will be statistically analyzed by multiple comparison models, using the R Studio 1.4 and GraphPad Prism 9.5.1 software.