LAUSR

BACKGROUND Exposure of Apis mellifera to neonicotinoid insecticides is one of the factors attributed to the recent decline in A. mellifera populations resulting in economic and ecological losses due to loss of pollination services. Honeybees can get exposed to neonicotinoids like imidacloprid directly in the field at the time of application as well as during consumption of pollen and nectar from treated plants. So, the fate of imidacloprid in commodities to which honeybees get exposed needs to be overhauled. RESULTS Residue of imidacloprid was investigated following imidacloprid application as seed treatment (30 and 60 g a.i. kg-1 seed) and foliar application (80 and 160 g a.i. ha-1 ). The imidacloprid residue was not detected in cotton flower, necatariferous tissue, pollen and honey from seed-treated plants. However, average initial imidacloprid residue was 1.84 and 1.95 mg kg-1 in flowers; 0.22 and 0.24 mg kg-1 in nectariferous tissue, and 0.88 and 0.96 mg kg-1 in pollen collected from plants sprayed with imidacloprid @ 80 g a.i. ha-1 at Faridkot and Bathinda, respectively. The initial imidacloprid residue in honey collected from hives in sprayed plots was 0.01 mg kg-1 . CONCLUSION Our results suggest that it is unlikely that imidacloprid seed treatment at recommended dose can adversely affect honey bees and is also safe for human consumption. However, its foliar spray at bloom time results in residue in flower, nectariferous tissue and pollen, which according to literature can adversely affect foraging behavior and learning abilities of honey bees that may affect pollination success. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.