Fungal pest-control product harms stingless bee gut and movement
Santoro A, Moreira DR, Santana TAT, Beltrame WS, da Silva de Carvalho NR
Pollinators
If you rely on native bees to pollinate garden crops or wild plants nearby, this study is a reminder that even 'natural' pest control products can quietly harm the pollinators you're trying to protect.
Farmers sometimes use a fungus called Metarhizium as a natural alternative to chemical pesticides, since it's supposed to only kill insect pests. But researchers found that a commercial version of this fungus also hurts stingless bees, damaging their gut tissue and making them move less steadily, even though it's marketed as bee-safe. This suggests biological pesticides need the same careful testing as chemical ones before we assume they're harmless to pollinators.
Key Findings
Exposure to the Metarhizium Oligos WP bioproduct for 5 and 10 days caused visible damage to the midgut tissue of Scaptotrigona depilis stingless bees
Bees showed impaired locomotion and other behavioral changes after exposure, despite no significant changes in antioxidant enzyme (SOD and CAT) activity
Researchers suspect oxidative stress from reactive oxygen species during fungal infection drove the physiological and behavioral harm
chevron_right Technical Summary
A commercial fungal pesticide meant to kill crop pests also damages the gut and behavior of stingless bees, key tropical pollinators, raising concerns about its safety for biological pest control.
Abstract Preview
Original paper
Commercial Product Based on Metarhizium Anisopliae Affects Survival, Midgut Morphology, and Behavior in the Stingless Bee Scaptotrigona depilis (Hymenoptera: Apidae).
Brazilian social stingless bees are important pollinators and producers of honey, wax, royal jelly, propolis, and other products. These species are experiencing a population decline, attributed to ...
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