The stingless bee species, Scaptotrigona aff. depilis, as a potential indicator of environmental pesticide contamination

Environ Toxicol Chem. 2015 Aug;34(8):1851-3. doi: 10.1002/etc.2998. Epub 2015 Jul 18.

Abstract

Neonicotinoids have the potential to enter the diet of pollinators that collect resources from contaminated plants. The species Scaptotrigona aff. depilis (Moure, 1942) can be a useful indicator of the prevalence of these chemicals in the environment. Using high-performance liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry, the authors devised a protocol for neonicotinoid residue extraction and detected the presence of neonicotinoids in the bee bodies. Thus, the authors consider this species to be a potential indicator of environmental contamination.

Keywords: Biomonitoring; Environmental toxicology; Imidacloprid; Insecticide; Neonicotinoid.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Bees / chemistry*
  • Bees / drug effects
  • Bees / metabolism
  • Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid
  • Environmental Pollutants / analysis*
  • Environmental Pollutants / chemistry
  • Mass Spectrometry*
  • Pesticides / analysis*
  • Pesticides / toxicity

Substances

  • Environmental Pollutants
  • Pesticides