In this study, several classes of fast-track labeled pesticides are being evaluated for harmful effects on honey bee learning ability. Results have been determined for the chemical insecticides diflubenzuron and tebufenozide. Two classical conditioning experiments were used to test the effects of diflubenzuron and tebufenozide on simple and complex learning in honey bees. Simple learning trials monitored the bees' acquisition and extinction of a behavior, while complex learning trials tested the bees' ability to discriminate between two stimuli. Harnessed bees were fed labeled concentrations of the pesticides, and any effect from that pesticide was measured by proboscis extension responses. Results showed that both simple and complex learning declined with increasing concentration of pesticide. These results were apparent with both diflubenzuron and tebufenozide, though diflubenzuron produced a greater negative effect on honey bee learning. The implications of these results are that fast-track labeled pesticides may harm bees by disrupting their ability to learn simple and complex hive behaviors.
Species 1: Hymenoptera Apidae Apis mellifera (honey bee)
Keywords: diflubenzuron, tebufenozide
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