Pollinating Insects-- Biology, Management and Systematics Research Site Logo
ARS Home About Us Helptop nav spacerContact Us En Espanoltop nav spacer
Printable VersionPrintable Version     E-mail this pageE-mail this page
Agricultural Research Service United States Department of Agriculture
Search
  Advanced Search
 
Programs and Projects
Subjects of Investigation
Big Data and Computing
Status of Pollinators
Research Strategy
Research Objectives
Alfalfa Leafcutting Bee
Blue Orchard Bee
Bumble Bees (Bombus)
Bumble Bee Rearing Guide
Ozone to Decontaminate Honey Bee Supers
Small Fruit Pollination
Squash Pollination
 

Research Project: POLLINATION AND THE DEVELOPMENT OF ALTERNATIVE CROP POLLINATORS

Location: Pollinating Insects-- Biology, Management and Systematics Research

Title: Foraging and Nesting Behavior of the Mason Bee Osmia lignaria (Hymenoptera: Megachilidae) in the Presence of Fungicides: Cage Studies

Authors
item Laudner, E. - INTRACHEM PRO,CESENA,IT
item Bosch, J. - UN. A.DE BARCELONA,SP
item Kemp, William
item Maini, S. - UN.DI BOLOGNA, IT

Submitted to: Journal of Economic Entomology
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: June 8, 2007
Publication Date: N/A

Interpretive Summary: During orchard pollination studies in California, we observed dramatic changes in nesting and foraging behavior of the solitary bee with Osmia lignaria following fungicide sprays. We subsequently exposed O. lignaria females nesting in field cages planted with Phacelia tanacetifolia to several sprays and studied potential changes in their behavior. We tested several fungicides and tank mixtures: iprodione (Rovral®), propiconazole (Orbit™), benomyl (Benlate®), captan (Captan 50WP), and neem oil (Trilogy®), the surfactant Dyne-Amic®, alone and in tank mixture with Rovral®; and the tank mixture IDB (Rovral® + Dyne-Amic + the foliar fertilizer Bayfolan® Plus). An additional cage sprayed with an equal volume of water acted as control, and a cage sprayed with the insecticide dimethoate as a toxic standard. For each female, we recorded mean time spent inside the nest depositing its pollen-nectar load (in-nest time), outside the nest foraging (foraging time), the number of brood cells produced per day (cell production rate), and survival throughout the study. In some cases, significant day-effects and significant treatment x day interactions were obtained (in-nest time increased over time in the benomyl-treated and control cages more so than in the iprodione-, propiconazole-, and captan-treated cages; foraging time decreased over time in the control cage more so than in the neem oil-treated cage). However, treatment effects never were significant. Following the application of IDB, most females interrupted their nesting activities for a few hours. Females in the cage treated with dimethoate behaved erratically the morning after the spray, and were all dead in the afternoon, while in none of the other cages, the sprays did affect female survival.

Technical Abstract: During orchard pollination studies in California, we observed dramatic changes in nesting and foraging behavior of the solitary bee with Osmia lignaria following fungicide sprays. We subsequently exposed O. lignaria females nesting in field cages planted with Phacelia tanacetifolia to several sprays and studied potential changes in their behavior. We tested several fungicides and tank mixtures: iprodione (Rovral®), propiconazole (Orbit™), benomyl (Benlate®), captan (Captan 50WP), and neem oil (Trilogy®), the surfactant Dyne-Amic®, alone and in tank mixture with Rovral®; and the tank mixture IDB (Rovral® + Dyne-Amic + the foliar fertilizer Bayfolan® Plus). An additional cage sprayed with an equal volume of water acted as control, and a cage sprayed with the insecticide dimethoate as a toxic standard. For each female, we recorded mean time spent inside the nest depositing its pollen-nectar load (in-nest time), outside the nest foraging (foraging time), the number of brood cells produced per day (cell production rate), and survival throughout the study. In some cases, significant day-effects and significant treatment x day interactions were obtained (in-nest time increased over time in the benomyl-treated and control cages more so than in the iprodione-, propiconazole-, and captan-treated cages; foraging time decreased over time in the control cage more so than in the neem oil-treated cage). However, treatment effects never were significant. Following the application of IDB, most females interrupted their nesting activities for a few hours. Females in the cage treated with dimethoate behaved erratically the morning after the spray, and were all dead in the afternoon, while in none of the other cages, the sprays did affect female survival.

   

 
Project Team
James, Rosalind
Pitts Singer, Theresa
Strange, James - Jamie
Cane, James - Jim
Griswold, Terry
 
Publications
   Publications
 
Related National Programs
  Crop Production (305)
 
 
Last Modified: 05/24/2013
ARS Home | USDA.gov | Site Map | Policies and Links 
FOIA | Accessibility Statement | Privacy Policy | Nondiscrimination Statement | Information Quality | USA.gov | White House