Sublethal Effects of Pesticides

Chronic exposure to flupyradifurone reduces bumblebee reproductive output

New pesticides are continually being created in response to increases in pest resistance and restrictions on use. Flupyradifurone (FPF) is a newer insecticide that acts on the same part of the insect nervous system as the controversial neonicotinoids, but is chemically distinct and less lethal to honeybees so it can be sprayed on flowering crops. In this study we find that while FPF does not kill adult bees, reproductive output is reduced, which could have population level implications.

(Richardson et al. 2024; https://doi.org/10.1111/1365-2664.14706)

Bumblebee parental care is impaired by flupyradifurone

In this study we investigated whether FPF has negative effects on bumblebee larvae directly due to the larvae ingesting this insecticide, or indirectly by impairing the parental care that the adult bees provide.

With both a hand feeding experiment to standardize the parental care received by all larvae and with a cross-fostering experiment to decouple adult and larval exposure, we find that FPF does not directly effect our larvae, but instead acts indirectly by impairing parental care.

(Richardson et al. 2025; https://doi.org/10.1007/s00040-025-01054-w)

Squash bee sucrose responsiveness

To better understand how the sublethal effects of insecticides could influence foraging in a non-model species we conducted a sucrose responsiveness assay with squash bees (Xenoglossa pruinosa) at 3 different doses with two insecticides (thiamethoxam & bifenthrin).

(in prep for submission to Apidologie)

Routes of exposure in conventionally managed pumpkin fields

This project will address how pesticides present in the environment and landscape use impact squash bee abundance both by directly quantifying hazard at the local level with two different assessment frameworks, and by uncovering how local level exposure can be predicted by landscape use.

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