Among insect pollinators, honey bees, Apis mellifera (Hymenoptera: Apidae), are universally acknowledged, most important managed pollinators that also provide honey production. In recent years, neonicotinoids are widely used against a broad spectrum sucking pests. However, they also pose a major threat to the beekeeping industry. The present study aimed to quantify the impact of thiamethoxam, a second-generation, broad-spectrum neonicotinoid on foraging behavior, colony performance, and survival of Apis mellifera L. in mustard crop under semi-field (cage) and field conditions. Under semi-field conditions, the foraging activity of A. mellifera on mustard bloom reduced significantly on the 2nd day after spray of thiamethoxam as compared to pre-count and control. Significant decrease in brood area (7th to 21st day), nectar stores (7th to 28th day), and pollen stores (7th to 21st day) were also recorded after the spray. The bee mortality under semi-field conditions was significantly higher on the 1st and 2nd day after spray in comparison to control. Under field conditions, average bee activity remained statistically low up to the 12th day after spray on mustard bloom in comparison to pre-count and control. The effect of thiamethoxam under field conditions was less pronounced for bee mortality and colony parameters. Based on LD50, thiamethoxam was proved toxic to adults and larvae of A. mellifera.

中文翻译：

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噻虫嗪（一种新烟碱类分子）对 A. mellifera 菌落性能的致死和亚致死效应。

在昆虫传粉媒介中，蜜蜂、蜜蜂（膜翅目：蜜蜂科）是公认的、最重要的管理传粉媒介，也提供蜂蜜生产。近年来，新烟碱类被广泛用于对抗广谱吸食性害虫。然而，它们也对养蜂业构成重大威胁。本研究旨在量化噻虫嗪（一种第二代广谱新烟碱类药物）在半田间（笼式）和田间条件下对芥菜作物的觅食行为、菌落性能和存活的影响。半田条件下，与计数前和对照相比，喷洒噻虫嗪后第2天蜜蜂对芥菜水华的觅食活性显着降低。育雏面积（第 7 至第 21 天）、花蜜储存（第 7 至第 28 天）显着减少，喷雾后还记录花粉储存（第 7 天至第 21 天）。半田间条件下的蜜蜂死亡率在喷洒后第 1 天和第 2 天明显高于对照。在田间条件下，与预计数和对照相比，在喷洒芥菜花后的第 12 天，平均蜜蜂活动在统计上仍然较低。在田间条件下噻虫嗪对蜜蜂死亡率和菌落参数的影响不太明显。基于LD50，噻虫嗪被证明对蜜蜂花的成虫和幼虫有毒。与预计数和对照相比，在喷洒芥末花后第 12 天，平均蜜蜂活动在统计上仍然很低。在田间条件下噻虫嗪对蜜蜂死亡率和菌落参数的影响不太明显。基于LD50，噻虫嗪被证明对蜜蜂花的成虫和幼虫有毒。与预计数和对照相比，在喷洒芥末花后第 12 天，平均蜜蜂活动在统计上仍然很低。在田间条件下噻虫嗪对蜜蜂死亡率和菌落参数的影响不太明显。基于LD50，噻虫嗪被证明对蜜蜂花的成虫和幼虫有毒。