http://www.bioone.org/doi/abs/10.1603/029.102.0511
Journal of Economic Entomology 102(5):1808-1815. 2009
doi: 10.1603/029.102.0511
Translocation of Neonicotinoid Insecticides from Coated Seeds to Seedling
Guttation Drops: A Novel Way of Intoxication for Bees
V. Girolami,1, <http://www.bioone.org/doi/abs/10.1603/029.102.0511#aff1>2<http://www.bioone.org/doi/abs/10.1603/029.102.0511#corr2>L.
Mazzon,
1 <http://www.bioone.org/doi/abs/10.1603/029.102.0511#aff1> A.
Squartini,3<http://www.bioone.org/doi/abs/10.1603/029.102.0511#aff3>N.
Mori,
1 <http://www.bioone.org/doi/abs/10.1603/029.102.0511#aff1> M.
Marzaro,1<http://www.bioone.org/doi/abs/10.1603/029.102.0511#aff1>A.
Di Bernardo,
1 <http://www.bioone.org/doi/abs/10.1603/029.102.0511#aff1> M.
Greatti,4<http://www.bioone.org/doi/abs/10.1603/029.102.0511#aff4>C.
Giorio,
5 <http://www.bioone.org/doi/abs/10.1603/029.102.0511#aff5> and A.
Tapparo5<http://www.bioone.org/doi/abs/10.1603/029.102.0511#aff5>
1 Dipartimento di Agronomia Ambientale e Produzioni Vegetali, Entomologia,
Università di Padova, Viale dell'Università 16, 35020 Legnaro (Padova)
Italy.
3 Dipartimento di Biotecnologie Agrarie, Università di Padova, Viale
dell'Università 16, 35020 Legnaro (Padova) Italy.
4 Dipartimento di Biologia e Protezione delle Piante, Entomologia,
Università di Udine, Via delle Scienze 208, 33100 Udine, Italy.
5 Dipartimento di Scienze Chimiche, Università di Padova, Via Marzolo 1,
35131 Padova, Italy.
2 Corresponding author, e-mail: [log in to unmask]
ABSTRACT
The death of honey bees, *Apis mellifera* L., and the consequent colony
collapse disorder causes major losses in agriculture and plant pollination
worldwide. The phenomenon showed increasing rates in the past years,
although its causes are still awaiting a clear answer. Although
neonicotinoid systemic insecticides used for seed coating of agricultural
crops were suspected as possible reason, studies so far have not shown the
existence of unquestionable sources capable of delivering directly
intoxicating doses in the fields. Guttation is a natural plant phenomenon
causing the excretion of xylem fluid at leaf margins. Here, we show that
leaf guttation drops of all the corn plants germinated from
neonicotinoid-coated seeds contained amounts of insecticide constantly
higher than 10 mg/1, with maxima up to 100 mg/1 for thiamethoxam and
clothianidin, and up to 200 mg/1 for imidacloprid. The concentration of
neonicotinoids in guttation drops can be near those of active ingredients
commonly applied in field sprays for pest control, or even higher. When bees
consume guttation drops, collected from plants grown from
neonicotinoid-coated seeds, they encounter death within few minutes.
*Received: *May 8, 2009; *Accepted: *June 30, 2009
--
Juanse Barros J.
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