Bioassay Development, Pesticide Risk Assessment for Integrated Pest & Pollinator Management of the Solitary Bee Osmia Cornifrons in Eastern U.S. Apple Orchards and the International Pesticide Regulation
Author | : Ngoc Phan |
Publisher | : |
Total Pages | : |
Release | : 2021 |
ISBN-10 | : OCLC:1300759050 |
ISBN-13 | : |
Rating | : 4/5 (50 Downloads) |
Book excerpt: Pesticides are believed to be a major contributor to regional pollinator declines which hassled to pollination insecurity. This dissertation furthers the evolving process of integrating pollinator health into the Eastern US apple orchard IPM program that has been termed IPPM. It focuses on the pesticide risk assessment for orchard pollinators by measuring species-based differences in toxicity responses of wild bees and honey bees to pesticide exposure through ingestion by measuring delayed mortality and sublethal developmental effects on adults and larvae. We also compare pesticide regulations between the US and the EU that shows the pros and cons in present pesticide regulatory decisions of these countries, and suggest future directions in instructing new policies regarding pollinator health. Previously in this lab, pesticide residue levels in apple pollen and nectar were measured to quantify the ingestion exposure of adult and larval bees to commonly used orchard pesticides. In this study, we developed a new ingestion bioassay protocol for assessing pesticide toxicity to the larvae and adults of a solitary bee (Megachilidae: Osmia cornifrons) to compare its toxicity profile to the European honey bee. Results from several bioassays allowed us to evaluate the effectiveness of present IPPM pesticide recommendations and have already informed our decision to modify the timing and selection of several insecticide and fungicide pest control tactics to increase the safety to both managed and wild pollinators regionally. This information will also influence pesticide registration decisions and pesticide regulatory frameworks for pollinator protection in the future.