%0 Journal Article
%T Imidacloprid Alters Foraging and Decreases Bee Avoidance of Predators
%A Ken Tan
%A Weiwen Chen
%A Shihao Dong
%A Xiwen Liu
%A Yuchong Wang
%A James C. Nieh
%J PLOS ONE
%D 2014
%I Public Library of Science (PLoS)
%R 10.1371/journal.pone.0102725
%X Concern is growing over the effects of neonicotinoid pesticides, which can impair honey bee cognition. We provide the first demonstration that sublethal concentrations of imidacloprid can harm honey bee decision-making about danger by significantly increasing the probability of a bee visiting a dangerous food source. Apis cerana is a native bee that is an important pollinator of agricultural crops and native plants in Asia. When foraging on nectar containing 40 ¦Ìg/L (34 ppb) imidacloprid, honey bees (Apis cerana) showed no aversion to a feeder with a hornet predator, and 1.8 fold more bees chose the dangerous feeder as compared to control bees. Control bees exhibited significant predator avoidance. We also give the first evidence that foraging by A. cerana workers can be inhibited by sublethal concentrations of the pesticide, imidacloprid, which is widely used in Asia. Compared to bees collecting uncontaminated nectar, 23% fewer foragers returned to collect the nectar with 40 ¦Ìg/L imidacloprid. Bees that did return respectively collected 46% and 63% less nectar containing 20 ¦Ìg/L and 40 ¦Ìg/L imidacloprid. These results suggest that the effects of neonicotinoids on honey bee decision-making and other advanced cognitive functions should be explored. Moreover, research should extend beyond the classic model, the European honey bee (A. mellifera), to other important bee species.
%U http://www.plosone.org/article/info%3Adoi%2F10.1371%2Fjournal.pone.0102725