Lycaena dispar Hawort (Lepidoptera: Lycaenidae), a protected butterfly, is declining in Europe, but it thrives in rice fields in northern Italy. Here, agrochemical usage could threaten its long-term survival. We investigated, by micronucleus (MN) assay, the genotoxic effect of glyphosate, a common herbicide, on L. dispar larvae. Micronuclei (MNi) are DNA fragments separated from the main nucleus and represent the result of genomic damage that has been transmitted to daughter cells. In a control/treatment experiment, we extracted epithelial cells from last-instar larvae fed with Rumex spp. plants sprayed with a solution containing 3.6 g/L of glyphosate, and from larvae fed with unsprayed plants. MNi and other chromosomal aberrations—nuclear buds (NBUDs) and bi-nucleated cells—were then scored in 1000 cells/subject. Significant differences were found between glyphosate-exposed and control groups in terms of MNi and total genomic damage, but not in terms of NBUDs or bi-nucleated cells. We reported a possible genomic damage induced by glyphosate on larvae of L. dispar. For the first time, a MN assay was used in order to evaluate the genomic damage on a phytophagous invertebrate at the larval stage. Increased levels of MNi reflect a condition of genomic instability that can result in reduced vitality and in an increased risk of local extinction. Therefore, farmland management compatible with wildlife conservation is needed.

受保护的蝴蝶Lycaena dispar Hawort（鳞翅目：Lycaenidae）在欧洲正在下降，但在意大利北部的稻田中却很活跃。在这里，农药的使用可能会威胁其长期生存。我们通过微核（MN）分析调查了草甘膦（一种常见的除草剂）对L. dispar幼虫的遗传毒性作用。微核（MNi）是与主核分离的DNA片段，代表已传递给子细胞的基因组损伤的结果。在对照/治疗实验中，我们从接受Rumex喂养的最后一龄幼虫中提取了上皮细胞spp。喷洒含有3.6 g / L草甘膦的溶液的植物，以及未喷洒植物的幼虫。然后，对MNi和其他染色体畸变-核芽（NBUD）和双核细胞-进行了1000个细胞/受试者的评分。在草甘膦暴露组和对照组之间，在MNi和总基因组损伤方面发现了显着差异，但在NBUDs或双核细胞方面没有发现显着差异。我们报告了草甘膦对L. dispar幼虫可能引起的基因组破坏。为了评估幼虫期对噬菌性无脊椎动物的基因组损害，第一次使用了MN分析。MNi水平升高反映了基因组不稳定的状况，这可能导致生命力降低和局部灭绝的风险增加。因此，需要与野生动植物保护兼容的农田管理。