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Microplastic ingestion and co-exposure to Nosema ceranae and flupyradifurone reduce the survival of honey bees (Apis mellifera L.)
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Researchers studied the combined effects of microplastics, the insecticide flupyradifurone, and the gut parasite Nosema ceranae on honey bee health. They found that all treatments reduced bee survival compared to controls, with the three-way combination being the most harmful, and that microplastics and the pesticide increased parasite reproduction. The study suggests that microplastics may worsen the effects of other stressors on bee health, compounding existing threats to pollinators.
Bees are exposed to several threats, including pathogens (i.e. Nosema ceranae), pesticides and environmental contaminants. The new insecticide flupyradifurone, and the microplastics in the environment, have raised significant concerns on bee health. This study evaluated the simultaneous effects of microplastics, flupyradifurone, and N. ceranae on honey bee health, focusing on survival rates, N. ceranae replication, daily food consumption, and bee midgut histological alterations. Results showed a significant decrease in bee longevity across all treatments compared to the control, with the combination of flupyradifurone, microplastics, and N. ceranae having the most severe impact. Microplastics and flupyradifurone exposure also increased N. ceranae proliferation, especially in bees subjected to both stressors. Histological analysis revealed reduced regenerative cell nests in the midgut and changes in the nuclear matrix, indicating stress responses. Overall, the simultaneous presence of both biotic and abiotic stressors in nature can synergistically interact, leading to harmful effects on bees.
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Combined effects of microplastics and flupyradifurone on gut microbiota and oxidative status of honeybees (Apis mellifera L.)
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Researchers found that honeybees exposed to both polystyrene microplastics and the pesticide flupyradifurone suffered significantly worse health outcomes than when exposed to either substance alone, including reduced survival and disrupted gut bacteria. The combination depleted beneficial Lactobacillus bacteria in the bees' guts, and supplementing with these bacteria improved survival. While focused on bees, this study demonstrates how microplastics can amplify the toxicity of other environmental chemicals, a principle that likely applies across species.
Effects of different microplastic types and co-exposure on the survival of Apis mellifera ligustica (Spinola, 1806) and its associated microbial communities
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Researchers fed honey bees three types of microplastics (polystyrene, polyethylene, and polymethyl methacrylate) individually and in combination, and found that all treatments significantly reduced bee survival compared to controls. The combination of all three microplastic types had the strongest negative effect, and the gut microbial community showed time- and treatment-specific shifts that may represent an initial compensatory response to maintain functional stability.
Combined exposure to flupyradifurone and microplastics: differential toxicity across three pollinator species.
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Researchers tested how microplastics combined with a pesticide (flupyradifurone) affected honeybees, bumblebees, and hoverflies. Pesticide alone caused most of the deaths, but in bumblebees, adding microplastics lowered the dose needed to be lethal. Effects varied by species, and a reliable toxic dose could not be determined for hoverflies.
Unravelling the microplastic menace: different polymers work in synergy to increase bee vulnerability
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Researchers studied the effects of polystyrene and poly(methyl methacrylate) microplastics, both individually and combined, on honeybees. They found that the mixture of different microplastic polymers produced synergistic harmful effects that were worse than either polymer alone, including increased mortality and disrupted gut microbiota. The study highlights that real-world microplastic exposure, which typically involves mixtures of polymers, may pose greater risks to pollinators than single-polymer laboratory studies suggest.
Single and Synergistic Effects of Microplastics and Difenoconazole on Oxidative Stress, Transcriptome, and Microbiome Traits in Honey Bees
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Researchers exposed honey bees to microplastics and the fungicide difenoconazole, both alone and together, and found that the combination caused worse oxidative stress and gut microbiome disruption than either pollutant alone. This is concerning because bees encounter both pollutants in agricultural environments, and the combined exposure may weaken their health more than expected.
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