Effects of neonicotinoid seed treatments on wild bee populations in soybean and corn fields in eastern Ontario. (4th August 2022)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Gaudreault, Emma S.; Naujokaititis‐Lewis, Ilona; Lapen, David R.; Sargent, Risa D.
• Is Part Of: Agricultural and forest entomology. Volume 25:Number 1(2023)
• Page Start: 53
• Page End: 65
• Publication Date: 2022-08-04
• Subjects: agroecosystem -- ground‐nesting bees -- neonicotinoids -- seed coat -- wild bee abundance -- wild bee richness; Insect pests -- Control -- Periodicals; Agricultural pests -- Control -- Periodicals; Forest insects -- Control -- Periodicals; 632.7
• DOI: 10.1111/afe.12530
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1461-9555

Abstract

Abstract: Neonicotinoid‐coated corn and soybean seeds are a common crop in Canada and the US. A growing body of research is demonstrating that, through various exposure routes, neonicotinoids can impact a suite of nontarget organisms including beneficial insects such as bees. However, to date, only a few studies have examined the effects of neonicotinoids in field settings. We assessed the relationship between agricultural crop soil neonicotinoid levels and wild bee abundance and diversity at 16 agricultural sites representing different soil neonicotinoid levels. We detected clothianidin at 11 sites, thiamethoxam at three sites; imidacloprid was not detected. Hedgerow and crop soils were consistent in terms of where clothianidin was detected; thiamethoxan was not detected in hedgerow soils. Based on model outcomes, fields with higher levels of soil neonicotinoids exhibited significantly lower wild bee abundance and diversity than those with low or no neonicotinoids detected. Crop soil neonicotinoid level, hedgerow floral resource abundance and crop type were consistent predictors of bee abundance across models; only neonicotinoid level and crop type were significant predictors of diversity. Our results are consistent with recent findings in the midwestern US, and underscore the potential risk of soil neonicotinoids to wild bee populations across regions and crop systems.