In vitro effects of thiamethoxam on larvae of Africanized honey bee Apis mellifera (Hymenoptera: Apidae)

Author(s)

Tavares, Daiana Antonia ^[1] ; Roat, Thaisa Cristina ^[1] ; Carvalho, Stephan Malfitano ^[2] ; Mathias Silva-Zacarin, Elaine Cristina ^[3] ; Malaspina, Osmar ^[1]

Affiliation

^[1] Univ Estadual Paulista, Dept Biol, BR-13506900 Rio Claro, SP - Brazil

^[2] Univ Fed Uberlandia, Inst Ciencias Agr, BR-38400 Uberlandia, MG - Brazil

^[3] Univ Fed Sao Carlos, Dept Biol, Sorocaba, SP - Brazil

• Document type: Journal article
• Source: Chemosphere; v. 135, p. 370-378, SEP 2015.
• Web of Science Citations: 27

Abstract

Several investigations have revealed the toxic effects that neonicotinoids can have on Apis mellifera, while few studies have evaluated the impact of these insecticides can have on the larval stage of the honeybee. From the lethal concentration (LC50) of thiamethoxam for the larvae of the Africanized honeybee, we evaluated the sublethal effects of this insecticide on morphology of the brain. After determine the LC50 (14.34 ng/mu L of diet) of thiamethoxam, larvae were exposed to a sublethal concentration of thiamethoxam equivalent to 1.43 ng/mu L by acute and subchronic exposure. Morphological and immunocytochemistry analysis of the brains of the exposed bees, showed condensed cells and early cell death in the optic lobes. Additional dose-related effects were observed on larval development. Our results show that the sublethal concentrations of thiamethoxam tested are toxic to Africanized honeybees larvae and can modulate the development and consequently could affect the maintenance and survival of the colony. These results represent the first assessment of the effects of thiamethoxam in Africanized honeybee larvae and should contribute to studies on honey bee colony decline. (C) 2015 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved. (AU)

• FAPESP's process: 09/06701-5 - MORPHOLOGIC AND IMUNOCITOQUÍMICA ANALYSIS OF THE BRAIN FROM LARVAE BEE AFRICANIZED OF APIS MELLIFERA AFTER EXPOSURE TO LOW DOSE OF TIAMETOXAN.
• Grantee: Daiana Antonia Tavares
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Master
• FAPESP's process: 13/09419-4 - Interaction between pesticides and Nosema infection in Africanized Apis mellifera: biological effects and detection of cellular biomarkers
• Grantee: Elaine Cristina Mathias da Silva
• Support Opportunities: Regular Research Grants
• FAPESP's process: 12/50197-2 - Action of products used in cultivation of sugar cane on non-target organisms
• Grantee: Carmem Silvia Fontanetti Christofoletti
• Support Opportunities: Program for Research on Bioenergy (BIOEN) - Thematic Grants