Exposure to a widely used mito-toxic fungicide negatively affects hemolymph protein and vitellogenin levels in honey bees (Apis mellifera)
Year: 2025
Type: article
Abstract: Mito-toxic fungicides used in crop protection negatively affect pollinating insects. The fungicide formulation Pristine® (ai: 25.2 % boscalid, 12.8 % pyraclostrobin) induces precocious foraging, reduced lifespan, impaired homing abilities, and reduced body size at field-relevant concentrations. However, the underlying physiological mechanisms for these outcomes are poorly understood. To assess the hypothesis that Pristine® negatively affects the nutritional status of honey bees, we collected workers from colonies that were fed field-relevant concentrations of Pristine® fungicide. Workers were collected concurrently from two experiments in which colonies were subjected to long- or short-term fungicide exposure. Pristine® exposure significantly reduced hemolymph protein concentration in bees from the long-term but not short-term study, and reduced vitellogenin levels during the short-term summer exposure. These findings suggest that mito-toxic fungicides can negatively affect the nutritional status of honey bee workers inducing detrimental behavioral and health outcomes which ultimately impact colony health and growth patterns. • Long-term exposure to field relevant concentrations of Pristine fungicide reduced hemolymph protein concentration. • Short-term fungicide exposure similarly reduced vitellogenin concentration. • Exposure outcomes varied by season. • Fungicides compromise honey bee nutritional status affecting behavioral and health outcomes.
Authors: Adrian Fisher, Keerut Chahal, Gloria DeGrandi-Hoffman, Brian H. Smith, Jennifer H. Fewell, Jon F. Harrison
Language: English
Subfield: Insect Science
Domain: Life Sciences
Open Access status: hybrid
Estimated APC paid: $3,540
Awards: G3489583495, G356415518
OpenAlex ID: W4408490651