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HONEY BEES AND BUMBLE BEES STRONGER TOGETHER
Welcome to Eurofins Agroscience Services
We are a leading provider of product development consultancy and technical support to the crop protection industry. Our technical activities involve conducting field and laboratory studies to determine the safety and efficacy of new agrochemicals and crop varieties. With over 25 years of experience, Eurofins Agroscience Services offers outstanding technical knowledge and project management skills. By acquiring a carefully selected range of CRO’s, we have created a unique portfolio of expertise that provides analytical, regulatory and field support to plant breeders, agrochemical, biopesticide, biocide and fine chemical manufacturers.
www.eurofins.com/agroscienceservices
Honey Bees And Bumble BeesThe toxic effects of plant protection products (PPPs) to bees (Apis mellifera) are tested following the latest OECD Guidelines. Eurofins Agroscience Services is experienced in conducting honey bee (Apis mellifera) laboratory and extended laboratory studies.
Laboratory Tests The acute oral and contact toxicity tests of PPPs on the honey bee (Apis mellifera) are performed according to the latest OECD guidelines (No. 213 and No. 214). Dual location in Germany and Spain allows year round testing; a huge benefit to clients.
When a PPP is expected to be of low acute oral and contact toxicity to bees, a limit test may be performed using a dose of 100 µg a.i./bee in order to demonstrate that the LD50 is above this value. When the toxicity of a PPP is unknown, bees are exposed to a range of doses to determine the LD50. To assess the acute oral toxicity of PPPs, honey bees are fed in the laboratory with the test item dissolved in sucrose solution. For the determination of the contact toxicity, the PPP dissolved in a carrier is applied to the thorax of the bees. Mortality is recorded daily for 48 hours but can be extended up to 96 hours when mortality continues to rise. The LD50 values will be determined throughout the duration assessment times.
Extended Laboratory Tests Extended laboratory bee trials are performed based on the EPA OPPTS 850.3030 guideline either in Spain or in Germany depending on the crop selected (vegetables and orchards in Germany; citrus in Spain). Honey bees (Apis mellifera) are exposed in the laboratory to residues of PPPs on leaves, aged under semi-field or field conditions. Through an exposure phase in the laboratory, different time intervals between the application date and start of bee exposure to the treated plant material can be evaluated. Along with the assessments of mortality, special attention is drawn to possible sublethal effects and behavioural differences of the bees compared to the control group.
Laboratory Bumble Bee Tests Laboratory tests can also be performed to OECD guidelines No. 213 and No. 214 assessing the effects of PPPs to bumble bees (Bombus terrestris). For the contact toxicity test, the equipment and method used for the honey bee laboratory test can be used although the oral toxicity test has to be adapted to accommodate the biology of bumble bees. Due to the absence of trophalaxis, group feeding is not possible and acute oral toxicity has to be determined by the individual feeding of single bumble bees.
Bumble bee acute oral test Spain and Germany
Honey bee acute oral test Spain and Germany
Honey bee acute contact testNC, USA and Niefern, Germany
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Chronic Feeding Tests To assess the effects (lethal and sublethal) of permanent exposure to low concentrations of PPPs to honey bees, a chronic feeding test can be performed over 10 days. The PPP is continuously fed to the bees as part of their daily diet. The food uptake, sublethal effects, behavioural abnormalities and mortality can be assessed during the test period. This test also shows the effects of a possible accumulation of PPP in honey bees.
Sampling of Test Organisms Test organism samples can be obtained from all the test designs for analytical purposes.
Honey Bee Stomach and Pollen PreparationTo determine the amount of residues carried into the hive by forager bees after PPP application, honey stomach preparations can be performed. Deep frozen samples of honey bees collected at intervals after application are sent to our laboratory where the bees will be dissected for the manual extraction of their honey stomach contents. The pollen loads can also be collected for analysis.
The obtained samples can be either analysed at our facility or stored until shipment to the selected analytical laboratory.
Guttation Laboratory StudyPossible residues of pesticides contained in guttation water of plants grown under defined climatic conditions can be sampled in these laboratory studies.
On the basis of results in different studies with / about honey bees (Apis mellifera), there is debate to whether the uptake of guttation water of seed-treated plants poses a risk to water collecting bees, leading to adverse effects on the development of honey bee colonies. Guttation occurs when air and soil moisture are particularly high, manifesting as drops of xylem sap on the tips or edges of leaves of some vascular plants, such as grasses. Used as a source of water, the guttation droplets can be ingested by bees.
Principles of the StudyPlants of untreated seeds (control group) are grown in climatic chambers; temperature and light controlled rooms. At several sampling dates the guttation water can be sampled by treatment group to analyse the residues of pesticides contained in them. The test duration will be up to three weeks after 50% emergence of the plants.
Guttation
Collecting honey stomachs to determine residues of a pesticide in nectarNC, USA, Germany and Spain
Honey bee chronic feeding
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Honey bee Larvae TestToxicity effects to honey bee larvae (Apis mellifera) from chronic or acute feeding exposure of PPP can be assessed in the laboratory by our in-vitro larvae test. The test design is based on the publications of Aupinel et al. (2005) and Huang (2009).
Principles of the StudyHoney bee larvae will be grafted and transferred into cellular culture plates and exposed to untreated food or food containing the test item. During the larval stage, mortality and signs of active food consumption will be assessed. At the start of the defecating period, the engorged larvae will be transferred to new pupation plates. Mortality at the pupal stage will be also assessed and dead or infected pupae will be removed from the plates.
The final assessment will be, at the latest, on day 22 of the test. Bees which are able to crawl will be counted as successfully hatched.
Honey bees in the hive
Honey bee comb
Honey bee larval brood testin laboratory
Eurofins Scientific GroupEurofins Scientific is a life sciences company that serves a wide range of industries including the pharmaceutical, agricultural, food and environmental sectors.
Today the Eurofins Group is a leading provider of analytical services with: An international network of 150 laboratories across 30 countries in Europe, the USA, Asia and South America About 9,500 staff A portfolio of over 40,000 reliable analytical methods More than 80 million assays per year to establish the safety, composition, authenticity, origin, traceability, identity and purity of biological substances
