The decline in bee populations worldwide has been associated with the use of pesticides in crop systems where these insects forage. The use of biopesticides, like spinosad, is preferred as an alternative method to control pests, because it is considered safer to non-target insects. In this study, we evaluated the lethal and sublethal effects of the spinosad-based formulation Tracer® on foragers of the stingless bee Plebeia lucii Moure (Apidae: Meliponini). Groups of bees were fed a pure diet (negative control) or a diet at different concentrations of spinosad. Positive control groups consisted of bees orally exposed to a diet with the neonicotinoid imidacloprid. Next, flight behavior, body mass, and respiration rate were evaluated in surviving bees. The results showed that bees´ survival was reduced by all concentrations of spinosad, when compared with the negative control. Bee locomotion—walking and flight—was reduced in accordance with the increase in spinosad concentrations; however, body mass and respiration rate were not altered. Our results show that the use of Tracer® in ecosystems visited by P. lucii can reduce forager bee survival and reduce their locomotion, generating a negative impact on pollination services provided by these bees.

中文翻译：

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基于Spinosad的配方会降低生存率，并改变无刺蜜蜂Plebeia lucii的行为。

全球蜜蜂种群的减少与在这些昆虫觅食的农作物系统中使用农药有关。优选使用生物杀虫剂（如多杀菌素）作为控制害虫的替代方法，因为它被认为比非目标昆虫更安全。在这项研究中，我们评估的无刺蜂的征粮基于多杀菌素配方Tracer®的致死和亚致死效应荔枝草luciiMoure（蚜虫：Meliponini）。给蜜蜂群喂纯饮食（阴性对照）或不同浓度的多杀菌素的饮食。阳性对照组由口服新烟碱类吡虫啉饮食的蜜蜂组成。接下来，评估了幸存的蜜蜂的飞行行为，体重和呼吸速率。结果表明，与阴性对照相比，所有浓度的多杀菌素都降低了蜜蜂的存活率。蜂的活动（步行和飞行）随着多杀菌素浓度的增加而降低；但是，体重和呼吸率没有改变。我们的研究结果表明，在生态系统中使用Tracer®参观由P. lucii 会降低觅食蜂的存活率并降低其活动能力，从而对这些蜜蜂提供的授粉服务产生负面影响。