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| Date: | Mon, 6 Jul 2009 17:08:51 EDT |
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Found this 2007 thesis, apologize for the length, but thought the results
interesting. In our conversations with beekeepers, many ask about
pesticide effects on queens, sperm. Here's one study that addressed that question.
Maybe everyone on Bee-L has seen her work or heard her speak, but if not,
here's her thesis title and abstract:
The Effects of Miticides on the Reproductive Physiology of Honey Bee
(Apis mellifera L.) Queens and Drones
Lisa Marie Burley
Abstract
The effects of miticides on the reproductive physiology of queens and
drones
were examined. The first study examined the effects of ApistanŽ
(fluvalinate), Check Mite+ (coumaphos), and Apilife VARŽ (74% thymol) on sperm
production and viability in drones. Drones from colonies treated with each
miticide were collected at sexual maturity. Sperm production was determined by
counting the number of sperm in the seminal vesicles. Sperm for viability
assays was analyzed by dual fluorescent staining.
Apilife VARŽ and coumaphos significantly lowered (P<0.0001) sperm
production and coumaphos treatments caused a significant decrease (P<0.0001) in the
sperm viability. The effects of miticides on queens was examined by
treating queen-rearing colonies and examining the number and viability of sperm in
the spermathecae of newly mated queens. Queens from each treatment group
were collected after mating and the spermathecae were removed and analyzed.
Colonies treated with coumaphos failed to provide viable queens and were
excluded. Apilife VARŽ was found to significantly decrease (P<0.0016) sperm
viability. No significant differences in sperm numbers were found between
treatments.
The effect of miticides on sperm viability over time was also examined.
Drones were reared as described, but the spermatozoa were collected as pooled
samples from groups of drones. The pooled samples from each treatment were
subdivided and analyzed periods of up to 6 weeks. Random samples were
taken from each treatment (n = 6 pools) over a period of 6 weeks. The exposure
of drones to coumaphos during development significantly reduced sperm
viability for all 6 weeks, and caused a large decline in week 6. The potential
impacts of these results on queen performance and failure are discussed.
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