Embed Size (px)
DESCRIPTION
MELISSA - Report http://www.dafne.at/dafne_plus_homepage/index.php?section=dafneplus&content=result&come_from=&&search_fields[offer_number]=100472&search_fields[title_ger]=&search_fields[research_objective]=&search_fields[beauftragungsjahr]=&search_fields[antragsteller]=&search_fields[projektleiter]=&project_id=2909 Summary The number of reports about honey bee colony losses or damages from many countries has increased over the last years. The potential causes are numerous and could differ case by case. According to the current knowledge, a single factor is rarely responsible. In fact, in many cases more likely a combination of etiological factors is involved, e.g. colony management and good apicultural practice, environmental and anthropogenic elements as well as honey bee pests and parasites. In spring 2008 severe honey bee losses occurred in Germany (Rhine valley), in Italy and Slovenia during and after sowing of clothianidin coated maize seed with pneumatic seed drills. Further investigations in Germany proved the causal connection between the use of this seed dressing insecticide and the reported damages in honey bee colonies. In order to assess the possible relevance of this problem to Austria, the project “Investigations in the incidence of bee losses in corn and oilseed rape growing areas of Austria and possible correlations with bee diseases and the use of insecticidal plant protection products” (acronym: “MELISSA”) was carried out in the years 2009 – 2011 on behalf of the Federal Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry, Environment and Water Management and the Austrian federal provinces. The aim of the project was to identify possible correlations between the incidence of honey bee losses in production areas of maize and oilseed rape and bee diseases or the use of plant protection products on the basis of field data. Summing up, the results of the MELISSA-project give evidence that in Austria regional clustered bee damages had occurred in the years 2009 – 2011, which were frequently associated with the use of maize and oilseed pumpkin seeds coated with insecticides, as proved by residue analysis. The strong local component and the accumulation in areas with small-scale structured agriculture indicated special environmental conditions resulting in an increased exposition of honey bees to the identified insecticidal plant protection substances in the affected areas. Regulatory measures to prevent honey bee losses due to the exposure of bees to insecticidal seed dressing substances have significantly improved the situation. However, repeatedly observed incidences of honey bee mortality in defined regions suggest their systematic correlation with local factors contributing to increased exposure of bees. In addition to considering environmental factors, all measures to mitigate risks have to be implemented invariably and with discipline.
Citation preview
Austrian Agency for Health and Food Safety (AGES)www.ages.at
Investigations on the incidence of bee losses in corn and oilseed rape growing areas of Austria and possible
correlations with bee diseases and the use of insecticidal plant protection products
(Acronym: MELISSA)Order for project: Federal Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry, the Environment and Water Management (BMLFUW)
Funding: BMLFUW, Federal provinces of Austria, AGES, Consortium of seed and plant protection companies
Duration: 1.3.2009 – 31.1.2012
Project manager: DI Leopold Girsch
Involved AGES-Divisions and Departments:
Division for Food Security: Inst. for Seed and Propagating Material, Phytosanitary Service and Apiculture; Inst. for Sustainable Plant Production; Inst. for Plant Protection Products;
Division for Food Safety;
Department Data, Statistics & Risk Assessment
Details and full report: www.dafne.at
Project Nr. 100472
www.ages.at
MELISSA
Objectives
• documentation of incidences of honey bee losses in production areas of maize and oilseed rape
• analysis of possible causes (honey bee pathogens andparasites, plant protection products)
• evaluation of results with respect to measures taken to preventhoney bee losses
• development of decision guidances for authorities, beekeepersand farmers for the implementation of measures to preventhoney bee losses by pathogens, parasites and plant protectionproducts
2Rudolf Moosbeckhofer, Leopold Girsch - AGES Division Food Security; Presentation:
Robert Womastek; SCFCAH - PPP Legislation Meeting, 27-28 Sept 2012
www.ages.at
Studies conducted
• diagnosis for pathogens and parasites in honey beesVarroa destructor, Nosema spp., 7 honey bee viruses
• analysis for residues
- insecticidal seed coating products
- other active substances of plant protection products
sampled matrices:
�bees, beebread, extracted honey
�plants
�seed
3Rudolf Moosbeckhofer, Leopold Girsch - AGES Division Food Security; Presentation:
Robert Womastek; SCFCAH - PPP Legislation Meeting, 27-28 Sept 2012
www.ages.at
Symptoms in honey bees andbee colonies
- increased numbers of dead bees inside and outside the hives- flightless bees with symptoms of trembling, cramping,
disorientation, paralysis, abnormal wing movements, hyperexcitation, disordered locomotory activity
o at time of maize sowing (simultaneously or from next day onwards)o ca. 10 – 14 days after beginning of maize sowing
- flightless crawling bees or groups of bees on the soil or in thegrass in front of beehives
o from the beginning of maize sowingo in many cases also considerably later in the season (May until beginning of June)
- intensity and duration of symptomso one to several days – in some cases considerably longero in some particular cases massive damages occured when bees showed a
multiple contamination by insecticidal seed coating substances and otherinsecticides
4Rudolf Moosbeckhofer, Leopold Girsch - AGES Division Food Security; Presentation:
Robert Womastek; SCFCAH - PPP Legislation Meeting, 27-28 Sept 2012
Observed symptoms in the apiaries(1)
• increased bee mortality
Residue analysis in bees: *Clothianidin 0.0021 mg/kg; *Thiamethoxam 0,0088 mg/kg
Residue analysis in bees: *Clothianidin 0,0033 mg/kg; *Imidacloprid 0,0273 mg/kg
*LOD = 0,0002 mg/kg; *LOQ = 0,001 mg/kg
5Rudolf Moosbeckhofer, Leopold Girsch - AGES Division Food Security; Presentation: Robert Womastek; SCFCAH - PPP Legislation Meeting, 27-28 Sept 2012
• flightless crawling bees from the beginning of maize sowing and in manycases also considerably later in the season
Observed symptoms in the apiaries(2)
Residue analysis:bees: negative
Residue analysis:bees: negative;bee bread positive: *Imidacloprid < LOQ **Thiacloprid < LOQ
*LOD = 0,0002 mg/kg; *LOQ = 0,001 mg/kg; ** LOQ: 0,01 mg/kg
6Rudolf Moosbeckhofer, Leopold Girsch - AGES Division Food Security; Presentation: Robert Womastek; SCFCAH - PPP Legislation Meeting, 27-28 Sept 2012
• large quantities of dead bees in cases of multiple contamination by insecticidalseed coating substances and other insecticides
Observed symptoms in the apiaries(3)
Insecticides detected in dead bees by residue analysis: *Clothianidin, *Fipronil, *Fipronil-sulfone, **Chlorpyrifos
*LOD = 0,0002 mg/kg; *LOQ = 0,001 mg/kg; ** LOQ: 0,01 mg/kg
7Rudolf Moosbeckhofer, Leopold Girsch - AGES Division Food Security; Presentation: Robert Womastek; SCFCAH - PPP Legislation Meeting, 27-28 Sept 2012
Bee yards with suspected bee poisonig –results of residue analysis year 2009
Insecticidal seed coating materials: Clothianidin, Thiamethoxam, Imidacloprid, Fipronil and Fipronil-sulfone
< LOQ≥ LOQnegative
8Rudolf Moosbeckhofer, Leopold Girsch - AGES Division Food Security; Presentation: Robert Womastek; SCFCAH - PPP Legislation Meeting, 27-28 Sept 2012
Bee yards with suspected bee poisonig –results of residue analysis year 2010
Insecticidal seed coating materials: Clothianidin, Thiamethoxam, Imidacloprid, Fipronil and Fipronil-sulfone
< LOQ≥ LOQnegative
9Rudolf Moosbeckhofer, Leopold Girsch - AGES Division Food Security; Presentation: Robert Womastek; SCFCAH - PPP Legislation Meeting, 27-28 Sept 2012
< LOQ≥ LOQnegative
Insecticidal seed coating materials: Clothianidin, Thiamethoxam, Imidacloprid, Fipronil and Fipronil-sulfone
Bee yards with suspected bee poisonig –results of residue analysis year 2011
10Rudolf Moosbeckhofer, Leopold Girsch - AGES Division Food Security; Presentation: Robert Womastek; SCFCAH - PPP Legislation Meeting, 27-28 Sept 2012
Results of residue analysis for„other plant protection substances“
Bees and Beebread
– Several different active substances were detected
– insecticides
– herbicides
– fungicides
– unapproved substances according to VO (EG) Nr. 1107/2009 were detected in single cases (e.g. phosalone, chlorfenvinphos,paraoxon-methyl, diphenylamin)
11Rudolf Moosbeckhofer, Leopold Girsch - AGES Division Food Security; Presentation: Robert Womastek; SCFCAH - PPP Legislation Meeting, 27-28 Sept 2012
Colony losses during hibernationperiod 2009/2010 (1)
4 beekeepers supposed losses to be connected with the uptake of potentiallycontaminated pollen during late summer and autumn of the previous year
a) Diagnostic results for pathogens and parasites
� In beekeeping operations 1 – 3 Varroosis could be identified as the most likely cause for
colony losses (Varroa-infestation rate bee samples: 17-39 %; brood samples: 24-56 %)
� In beekeeping operation 4 severe failures to comply with good apicultural practice were
revealed (establishment of very weak mating nucs late in the year, no protective measures
against shrews, dysentery and N. ceranae as cofactors), therefore no residue analysis was
performed12
Rudolf Moosbeckhofer, Leopold Girsch - AGES Division Food Security; Presentation: Robert Womastek; SCFCAH - PPP Legislation Meeting, 27-28 Sept 2012
Colony losses during hibernationperiod 2009/2010 (2)
b) Residue analysis
• No residues from insecticidal seed coating materials orother active substances of plant protection products weredetected in
– bee bread samples (pooled by apiaries) from 3 beekeeping operations
– dead bees (pooled sample) from one beekeepingoperation
• Conclusion: In these 4 cases there are no indications fora contamination of hive products by the investigatedanalytes
13Rudolf Moosbeckhofer, Leopold Girsch - AGES Division Food Security; Presentation: Robert Womastek; SCFCAH - PPP Legislation Meeting, 27-28 Sept 2012
Colony losses during hibernationperiod 2010/2011
6 beekeepers supposed losses to be connected with the uptake of potentiallycontaminated pollen during late summer and autumn of the previous year
a) Residue analysis of bee bread from dead or very weak colonies
• Case 1: Clothianidin < LOQ
• Case 2: Imidacloprid < LOQ
• Cases 3 - 5: negative
• Case 6: no residue analysis was performed (severe case of varroosis: 24 % infestation
rate in remaining brood cells)
b) Diagnostic results for pathogens and parasitesIn cases 3 - 6 pests and parasites were most likely the causes for colony winter losses.
Conclusions: an exposure to insecticide seed coating material was confirmed for 2 cases of winter losses. Because Imidacloprid is used both as a seed coating and a spray treatment the source for this contaminant remained unclear.
14Rudolf Moosbeckhofer, Leopold Girsch - AGES Division Food Security; Presentation: Robert Womastek; SCFCAH - PPP Legislation Meeting, 27-28 Sept 2012
Suspected bee poisoning incidentsduring bloom of maize or later in the year 2011
Reports from 5 beekeeping operations (5 bee yards)
Reasons suspected by beekeepers:
• case 1: “spray applikations in seed maize or grape-vine“; residue analysis bees: Imidacloprid 0,0016 mg/kg
• case 2: “plant protection activity“: residue analysis bees: Imidacloprid < LOQ (LOQ = 0,001 mg/kg)
• cases 3, 4: “contaminated pollen from maize, oilseed-pumpkin, grape-vine“; residue analysis negative
• case 5: “unidentified plant protection activity“; residue analysis not possibledue to insufficient sample size
15Rudolf Moosbeckhofer, Leopold Girsch - AGES Division Food Security; Presentation: Robert Womastek; SCFCAH - PPP Legislation Meeting, 27-28 Sept 2012
Clothianidin – three-years-comparison ofresidue results for samples of bees and bee bread
MELISSA-Vergiftungsverdacht Rückstandsanalysen auf Clothianidin
Matrix: Bienen und Bienenbrot
0 02
3
0 0
2
42
7
9
2
24 4227
0
2
0 0 0 0 0 0 00
1
0
0
0 0
2
7
5
2
3
1
7 9
9
0
0
0 0 0 0 0 0 00
0
18
0
1
0
2
19
42
11
28
29
7 1515
0
2
0 0
1 1
0 0 00%
10%
20%
30%
40%
50%
60%
70%
80%
90%
100%
2009
2010
2011
2009
2010
2011
2009
2010
2011
2009
2010
2011
2009
2010
2011
2009
2010
2011
2009
2010
2011
2009
2010
2011
B K NOE OOE ST T W V
CLO >= BG CLO < BG CLO n.n.
LOD = 0,0002 mg/kg; LOQ = 0,001 mg/kg
Bees + Bee bread: significant declinein percentage ofpositive samplesfrom 2009 - 2011
Legend: BG = LOQn.n. = not detected
16Rudolf Moosbeckhofer, Leopold Girsch - AGES Division Food Security; Presentation: Robert Womastek; SCFCAH - PPP Legislation Meeting, 27-28 Sept 2012
Thiamethoxam – three-years-comparison ofresidue results for samples of bees and beebread
MELISSA-Vergiftungsverdacht Rückstandsanalysen auf Thiamethoxam
Matrix: Bienen und Bienenbrot
0 0 0
3
0 0
13
12
1 0 110 5
0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 00 0 0
0
0 0
02
0
2
31
7
12
2
0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 00
1 20
0
1
0
5 25
48
1636
31
3044
44
0
4
0 0
1 1
0 0 00%
10%
20%
30%
40%
50%
60%
70%
80%
90%
100%
2009
2010
2011
2009
2010
2011
2009
2010
2011
2009
2010
2011
2009
2010
2011
2009
2010
2011
2009
2010
2011
2009
2010
2011
B K NOE OOE ST T W V
THI >= BG THI < BG THI n.n.
LOD = 0,0002 mg/kg; LOQ = 0,001 mg/kg
Bees + Bee bread: significant decline in percentage of positive samples from 2009 -2011
Legend: BG = LOQn.n. = not detected
17Rudolf Moosbeckhofer, Leopold Girsch - AGES Division Food Security; Presentation: Robert Womastek; SCFCAH - PPP Legislation Meeting, 27-28 Sept 2012
Fipronil + Fipronil-sulfone – three-years-comparison of residue results for samples ofbees and bee bread
MELISSA-Vergiftungsverdacht Rückstandsanalysen auf Fipronil
Matrix: Bienen und Bienenbrot
0 0 0 0 0 0 02
0 0 1 0 1 3 1 0
1
0 0 0 0 0 0 00 0 0 0 0 0 00
0 01
01
40 0
0
0 0 0 0 0 0 00
1 20 3 1
0
628
49 20 38 32 36 5950
0
3
0 0
1 1
0 0 00%
10%
20%
30%
40%
50%
60%
70%
80%
90%
100%
200
9
201
0
201
1
200
9
201
0
201
1
200
9
201
0
201
1
200
9
201
0
201
1
200
9
201
0
201
1
200
9
201
0
201
1
200
9
201
0
201
1
200
9
201
0
201
1
B K NOE OOE ST T W V
FIP >= BG FIP < BG FIP n.n.
FipronilMELISSA-Vergiftungsverdacht
Rückstandsanalysen auf Fipronil- sulfon Matrix: Bienen und Bienenbrot
0 0 0 0 0 0 02
0 0 0 0 0 2 1 0
1
0 0 0 0 0 0 00 0 0 0 0 0 0
0
0 0 1 0 12
0 0
0
0 0 0 0 0 0 00
1 20 3 1
0
628
49 20 39 32 37 62 50
0
3
0 0
1 1
0 0 00%
10%
20%
30%
40%
50%
60%
70%
80%
90%
100%
2009
2010
2011
2009
2010
2011
2009
2010
2011
2009
2010
2011
2009
2010
2011
2009
2010
2011
2009
2010
2011
2009
2010
2011
B K NOE OOE ST T W V
FIP-S >= BG FIP-S < BG FIP-S n.n.
Fipronil-sulfone
Bees: significant declinein percentage of positive samples
LOD = 0,0002 mg/kg; LOQ = 0,001 mg/kg
Legend: BG = LOQ; n.n. = not detected
18Rudolf Moosbeckhofer, Leopold Girsch - AGES Division Food Security; Presentation: Robert Womastek; SCFCAH - PPP Legislation Meeting, 27-28 Sept 2012
Imidacloprid – three-years-comparison ofresidue results for samples of bees and beebread
Bees + Bee bread: significant increasein percentage ofpositive samplesfrom 2009 - 2011
MELISSA-Vergiftungsverdacht Rückstandsanalysen auf Imidacloprid
Matrix: Bienen und Bienenbrot
0 0
3
0 0 0 0 0 1 0 04
0 2 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
1
0 0
3
0 0 0 0 02 1 0
3
51 1
0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
1
0
1
14
3 1
0
6 3046 19 40
2533
63 48
0
4
0 0
1 1
0 0
0
0%
10%
20%
30%
40%
50%
60%
70%
80%
90%
100%
2009
2010
2011
2009
2010
2011
2009
2010
2011
2009
2010
2011
2009
2010
2011
2009
2010
2011
2009
2010
2011
2009
2010
2011
B K NOE OOE ST T W V
IMI >= BG IMI < BG IMI n.n.
LOD = 0,0002 mg/kg; LOQ = 0,001 mg/kg
Legend: BG = LOQn.n. = not detected
19Rudolf Moosbeckhofer, Leopold Girsch - AGES Division Food Security; Presentation: Robert Womastek; SCFCAH - PPP Legislation Meeting, 27-28 Sept 2012
Exposure of bee yards (%) to insecticidal seed coatingmaterials1 in the years 2009 – 2011 according to results ofresidue analysis in bees or bee bread
Bee y
ard
s
MonitoringSuspected poisoning
Anteil der Bienenstände mit bzw. ohne
Rückstandsnachweis für insektizide Saatgutbeizmittel in
Bienen oder Bienenbrot* 2011 wurden keine Monitoringstände untersucht, bzw. 7 Proben nur auf
"sonstige Pflanzenschutzmittel" untersucht
2055
43 74
5
11
287
2
2
27
66
8
13
7
0%
10%
20%
30%
40%
50%
60%
70%
80%
90%
100%
2009 2010 2011 2009 2010 2011*
Vergiftungsverdacht Monitoring
Bie
nenst
ände n.u.**
neg.
< BG
≥ BG
Significant downtrend of exposed bee yards during years of study.
1 Clothianidin, Thiamethoxam, Imidacloprid, Fipronil andFipronil-sulfone: LOD = 0,0002 mg/kg; LOQ = 0,001 mg/kg
*7 samples just analysed for„other active substances ofplant protection products;
** in 2011, no monitoringbeeyards were investigated;
Legend: BG = LOQneg = negativen.u. = not analysed
20Rudolf Moosbeckhofer, Leopold Girsch - AGES Division Food Security; Presentation: Robert Womastek; SCFCAH - PPP Legislation Meeting, 27-28 Sept 2012
Residue analysis of extracted honey
In 2009 9 samples and in 2010 62 samples were analysed for Clothianidin, Thiamethoxam, Imidacloprid: all negative (LOD = 0,0006 mg/kg; LOQ = 0,002 mg/kg)
2011: 13 samples analysed: all were in compliance with the MRL-regulations and fully marketable
according to the Austrian legislative framework.
Legend: n.d. = not detectable; LOQ = level of quantification; LOD = level of detection1 LOQ = 0,0002 mg/kg; LOD = 0,00006 mg/kg2 LOQ = 0,0005 mg/kg; LOD = 0,00015 mg/kg3 LOQ = 0,01 mg/kg*for these substances LOD and LOQ, respectively, were lower by a factor of 10 in 2011 compared to the years 2009 and 2010.
Analytes n.d. > LOQ < LOQ Samples (n=)
*Clothianidin1 11 0 2
13
*Thiamethoxam2 12 0 1
*Imidacloprid1 11 1 1
*Fipronil2, *Fipronil-sulfone1 13 0 0
Thiacloprid2 5 4 4
Amitraz3 12 1 0
21Rudolf Moosbeckhofer, Leopold Girsch - AGES Division Food Security; Presentation: Robert Womastek; SCFCAH - PPP Legislation Meeting, 27-28 Sept 2012
Wind conditions at time of maize sowing 2011„no sowing of insecticidal coated maize and oil pumpkin seed with pneumatic seeddrills at a windspeed > 5 m/s (18 km/h)“
Day
Win
dsp
eed (
m/s
ec)
5
10
15
20
25
Wind-peak values (wsp)
Hours
22Rudolf Moosbeckhofer, Leopold Girsch - AGES Division Food Security; Presentation: Robert Womastek; SCFCAH - PPP Legislation Meeting, 27-28 Sept 2012
Wind conditions in April at time of maize sowingyears: 2009, 2010, 2011„no sowing of insecticidal coated maize and oil pumpkin seed with pneumatic seeddrills at a windspeed > 5 m/s (18 km/h)“
Neusiedl/See 2009 - 2011 Wind-Spitzenwerte 12 Uhr
0
50
100
150
200
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30
Tag
Win
dges
chw
indi
gkei
t (Z
ehnt
elm
eter
/sec
)
wsp-12h-2009 wsp-12h-2010 wsp-12h-2011
Location Neusiedl/SeeWind-peak values (wsp) at 12 (a.m.)
Win
dsp
eed (
m/s
ec)
5
10
15
20
23Rudolf Moosbeckhofer, Leopold Girsch - AGES Division Food Security; Presentation: Robert Womastek; SCFCAH - PPP Legislation Meeting, 27-28 Sept 2012
Heubach-values of abrasion tests fromenforcement (marketing) control samplesof insecticidal coated seed batches in 2010 and 2011
Maximum permissible abrasion value: 0.75 g/100.000 kernels
0,00
0,10
0,20
0,30
0,40
0,50
0,60
0,70
0,80
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
2010 2011Grenzwert Abrieb0,75 g / 100.000 Korn
Mittelwert = 0,35 g / 100.000 Korn Mittelwert = 0,17 g / 100.000 KornAverage = 0.35 g/100.000 kernels Average = 0.17 g/100.000 kernels
24Rudolf Moosbeckhofer, Leopold Girsch - AGES Division Food Security; Presentation: Robert Womastek; SCFCAH - PPP Legislation Meeting, 27-28 Sept 2012
Summary
• Results of the MELISSA-project give evidence that in Austria regional clustered bee
damages had occurred in the years 2009 – 2011, which were frequently associated with
the use of maize and oilseed pumpkin seeds coated with insecticides.
• Regulatory measures to prevent honey bee losses due to the exposure of bees to
insecticidal seed dressing substances have significantly improved the situation. However,
repeatedly observed incidences of honey bee mortality in defined regions suggest their
systematic correlation with local factors contributing to increased exposure of bees.
• Seed dressing quality and seed drill equipment still need further improvement and
sowing of insecticidal dressed seed with pneumatic seed drills has to be avoided under
windy conditions
• Insecticidal seed dressings should be used solely based on a given risk in plant
production with therefore reasoned indication.
• An adjustment in the approval procedure is required for risk assessment and approval of
insecticidal substances concerning the specific characteristics and possible routes of
exposure of bee toxic seed dressing substances.
25Rudolf Moosbeckhofer, Leopold Girsch - AGES Division Food Security; Presentation: Robert Womastek; SCFCAH - PPP Legislation Meeting, 27-28 Sept 2012
For further Details, please contact
Dr. Rudolf Moosbeckhofer
AGES, Institute for Seed and Propagation Material, PhytosanitaryService and Apiculture
Department for Apiculture and Bee Protection
26Rudolf Moosbeckhofer, Leopold Girsch - AGES Division Food Security; Presentation: Robert Womastek; SCFCAH - PPP Legislation Meeting, 27-28 Sept 2012
