We conducted laboratory experiments to investigate the lethal and sub-lethal effects of clothianidin on bumble bee (Bombus impatiens Cresson) colony health and foraging ability. Bumble bee colonies were exposed to 6 ppb clothianidin, representing the highest residue levels found in field studies on pollen, and a higher dose of 36 ppb clothianidin in pollen. Clothianidin did not affect pollen consumption, newly emerged worker weights, amount of brood, or the number of workers, males, and queens at either dose. The foraging ability of individual workers tested on an artificial array of complex flowers also did not differ among treatments. These results suggest that clothianidin residues found in seed treated canola and possibly other crops will not adversely affect the health of bumble bee colonies or the foraging ability of workers.
Species 1: Hymenoptera Apidae Bombus impatiens (bumble bee)
Keywords: chloronicotinyl insecticide
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