Ecology, Environment and Conservation Paper

IMPACT OF ORGANOPHOSPHATE INSECTICIDES ON SUCROSE CONSUMPTION IN APIS MELLIFERA

Liyaqat Ayoub, Munazah Yaqoob, Raihana H. Kanth, Fehim J. Wani, Sajad H. Mir, Aamir H. Mir and M. A. Mantoo

Abstract

Honeybees (Apis mellifera) play a pivotal role in pollinating numerous crops, ensuring both food security and ecological balance. However, their populations face critical threats, including exposure to pesticides. Honeybees were exposed to varying concentrations of chlorpyriphos 20 EC, dimethoate 30 EC, and profenophos 50 EC in sucrose solution. Honeybees consuming chlorpyriphos 20 EC showed the highest intake at a concentration 0.005% (20.48 l) and the lowest at 0.06% (19.42 l). Dimethoate 30 EC treated bees had their highest at 0.005% (20.17 l) and the lowest at 0.07% (19.22 l). Profenophos 50 EC exhibited its peak consumption at 0.01% (20.05 l) and the lowest at 0.09% (19.67 l). In contrast, the control group displayed the highest consumption among all the treatments (24.27 l). The results demonstrate concentration-dependent alterations in behaviour, with higher pesticide concentrations leading to reduced sucrose solution intake.