Effects of sublethal doses of glyphosate on honeybee navigation

• DOI: 10.1242/jeb.117291
• Publication Date: 2015-09-02T21:19:28Z
• Authors: María Sol Balbuena; Léa Tison; Marie-Luise Hahn; Uwe Greggers; Randolf Menzel; Walter M. Farina
• Keywords: Homing (biology); Triclopyr

Glyphosate (GLY) is a herbicide that widely used in agriculture for weed control. Although reports about the impact of GLY snails, crustaceans and amphibians exist, few studies have investigated its sublethal effects non-target organisms such as honeybee Apis mellifera, main pollen vector commercial crops. Here, we tested whether exposure to three concentrations (2.5, 5 10 mg l(-1): corresponding 0.125, 0.250 0.500 μg per animal) affects homeward flight path honeybees an open field. We performed experiment which forager were trained artificial feeder, then captured, fed with sugar solution containing traces released from novel site either once or twice. Their trajectories tracked using harmonic radar technology. found had been l(-1) spent more time performing flights than control bees treated lower concentrations. They also indirect homing flights. Moreover, proportion direct after second release same increased but not bees. These results suggest that, honeybees, levels commonly agricultural settings impairs cognitive capacities needed retrieve integrate spatial information successful return hive. Therefore, navigation affected by ingesting most worldwide, potential long-term negative consequences colony foraging success.