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61,005 resultsShowing papers similar to Microplastic accumulation in terrestrial insects on the example of social wasps (Hymenoptera: Vespidae)
ClearLong-term dynamics of microplastic accumulation in the intestinal tract of terrestrial insects on the example of Vespula vulgaris (Linnaeus, 1758) (Hymenoptera: Vespidae)
This study investigated the long-term accumulation of microplastics in the intestinal tract of common wasps (Vespula vulgaris), tracking how plastic particles build up in a terrestrial insect over time. The findings indicate that even non-aquatic invertebrates are accumulating microplastics, suggesting broad contamination of terrestrial food webs.
First record of microfibers associated with insects in the Amazon: social wasps (Hymenoptera: Vespidae)
Researchers found the first evidence of synthetic fiber incorporation by insects in natural Amazonian environments, detecting non-vegetable fibers up to 16 mm embedded in the nests of four social wasp species including Polybia rejecta and Polistes canadensis. While ingestion was not confirmed in adult wasps, the findings suggest widespread environmental microfiber presence and propose social wasps as potential bioindicators for monitoring plastic pollution in tropical ecosystems.
Interactions between microplastics and insects in terrestrial ecosystems—A systematic review and meta-analysis
This meta-analysis with phylogenetic control found that microplastic exposure impairs key biological traits of insects, primarily behavior and reproduction, with effects varying by polymer type and particle size. Field evidence confirmed that insects ingest and transfer microplastics along food chains, and also contribute to bio-fragmentation of larger plastic debris into smaller particles.
Ingestion of polystyrene microparticles impairs survival and defecation in larvae of Polistes satan (Hymenoptera: Vespidae)
Researchers found that ingestion of polystyrene microparticles impaired survival and defecation in paper wasp larvae, with higher doses causing greater mortality, demonstrating that terrestrial insects are vulnerable to microplastic contamination.
Interaction of microplastics and terrestrial and aquatic insects (bioaccumulation, degradation, ecotoxicological effects)
This review synthesizes research on how insects — both aquatic and terrestrial — interact with microplastics, covering ingestion, bioaccumulation, potential degradation, and toxic effects across many species. Insects represent a critical but understudied link in microplastic transfer through food webs: they occupy a pivotal trophic position, and contamination in insects can propagate to birds, fish, and other wildlife that depend on them. The review highlights significant knowledge gaps in terrestrial insect ecotoxicology compared to the better-studied aquatic realm.
Exposure Pathways and Toxicity of Microplastics in Terrestrial Insects
This review summarizes what is known about how land-dwelling insects encounter, consume, and are affected by plastic pollution. Insects can accumulate microplastics and transfer them to animals higher up the food chain, and exposure has been linked to reduced growth, reproduction, and survival. Since insects play critical roles in pollination and soil health, widespread plastic contamination could have cascading effects on ecosystems and agriculture.
Ingestion of polystyrene microparticles impairs survival and defecation in larvae of Polistes satan (Hymenoptera: Vespidae)
Researchers found that polystyrene microplastic ingestion significantly impaired survival and defecation in larvae of the paper wasp Polistes satan, with effects dependent on particle size and concentration. The findings demonstrate that terrestrial insects are vulnerable to microplastic contamination and that ingestion can disrupt basic physiological functions.
Microplastics in terrestrial insects, long-horned beetles (Coleoptera: Cerambycidae), from China
Researchers examined microplastic contamination in wild long-horned beetles collected from four cities across China and found microplastics in 68 to 88 percent of specimens. Fibers were the most common shape, with polyethylene terephthalate being the dominant polymer type. The study provides some of the first evidence that microplastics are accumulating in wild terrestrial insects, suggesting widespread contamination of land-based food webs.
Microplastic contamination in the agri-food chain: The case of honeybees and beehive products
Researchers investigated microplastic and microfiber contamination in honeybees and beehive products across urban and rural areas in Southern Italy. They confirmed that microplastics were present on bee bodies and in honey, wax, and propolis regardless of the surrounding environment, indicating widespread airborne contamination. The findings suggest that honeybees and their products could serve as bioindicators for monitoring microplastic pollution in the atmosphere.
Plastic ingestion in aquatic insects: Implications of waterbirds and landfills and association with stable isotopes
Researchers investigated microplastic contamination in aquatic insects (water boatmen and midges) across Mediterranean wetlands in southern Spain. They found 571 suspected microplastic particles, mostly blue polyester and polypropylene fibers, with higher contamination near landfills and in areas frequented by colonial waterbirds that feed at landfills. The study suggests that landfills and birds that visit them serve as significant vectors for transferring microplastics into wetland ecosystems.
Ants actively carry microplastics
This study found that ants actively transport microplastic particles, carrying them both into and out of their nests, making them a previously overlooked pathway for microplastic movement in soils. Soil invertebrates may play a significant role in spreading microplastic contamination through terrestrial ecosystems.
Interactions of insects with micro- and nanoplastics: A review
This comprehensive review of 114 studies found that micro- and nanoplastics accumulate in both terrestrial and aquatic insects, causing reduced growth, impaired reproduction, oxidative stress, and gut microbiome disruption. Since insects are foundational to food webs and pollination, plastic contamination in insect populations could cascade through ecosystems and ultimately affect human food systems.
Honeybees as active samplers for microplastics
Honeybee workers collected from urban, suburban, and rural Copenhagen apiaries all carried microplastics, predominantly fragments (52%) and fibers (38%), with urban hives showing the highest loads — establishing honeybees as practical active samplers for environmental microplastic monitoring.
Characterizing microplastic ingestion, transformation, and excretion in insects using fluorescent plastics
Using fluorescent microplastics as tracers, researchers showed that insects can ingest, transform through digestion, and excrete microplastic particles, demonstrating that insects are both exposed to and potential vectors for spreading microplastics in terrestrial ecosystems.
To pass on or not to pass on: The fate of orally ingested microplastic during cooperative brood care in two social Hymenoptera species
Researchers tested whether microplastic particles ingested by workers of the Japanese carpenter ant (Camponotus japonicus) and the buff-tailed bumblebee (Bombus terrestris) are transferred to larvae during cooperative brood care, finding evidence that ingested microplastics can be passed from workers to brood. The study highlights a colony-level exposure pathway in ecologically important social insects that has been largely overlooked in microplastic research.
Influence of Geographic Separation Between Urban Centers and Microplastic Burden on Bees (Apis mellifera)
Researchers studied whether the distance between honeybee colonies and urban centers affects the amount of microplastic contamination found on the bees. They found that bees closer to cities carried significantly more microplastics on their bodies than those in more rural areas. The study suggests that honeybees could serve as biological indicators for monitoring local microplastic pollution levels.
Ontogenetic transfer of microplastics in natural populations of malaria mosquitoes in Western Siberia
Researchers studied how malaria-carrying mosquitoes in Western Siberia take up microplastics during their aquatic larval stage and carry them through metamorphosis into adulthood. Larvae accumulated millions of polystyrene particles within days, but the number dropped dramatically during each life stage transition, with only a few particles remaining in adult mosquitoes. The study confirms that flying insects can transfer waterborne microplastic pollution into terrestrial environments.
Microplastic contamination is widespread across invertebrate taxa frequently consumed by terrestrial vertebrates
Researchers conducted a large-scale survey of microplastic contamination across invertebrate species at 51 sites in England, sampling six taxonomic groups and four trophic levels. Plastic particles were found in nearly 12% of samples across all groups tested, with earthworms and snails showing the highest contamination rates, indicating that microplastic pollution is widespread throughout terrestrial food webs regardless of dietary habits.
Microplastics incorporated by honeybees from food are transferred to honey, wax and larvae
Researchers found that when honeybees consume food contaminated with microplastics, the particles are transferred to honey, beeswax, and developing larvae inside the hive. Chronic exposure did not significantly affect colony growth, but the presence of microplastics in honey means humans may be ingesting them through this food source. This study reveals another pathway by which microplastics can enter the human diet through contaminated bee products.
The Disadvantageof Having a Big Mouth: The Relationshipbetween Insect Body Size and Microplastic Ingestion
Researchers investigated the relationship between insect body size and microplastic ingestion, finding that larger mouth openings increase exposure to bigger plastic particles while insects also physically fragment larger microplastics into nanoplastics. The study highlights insects as both vectors of microplastic transfer through food webs and active contributors to nanoplastic generation in terrestrial environments.
The Disadvantageof Having a Big Mouth: The Relationshipbetween Insect Body Size and Microplastic Ingestion
Researchers investigated the relationship between insect body size and microplastic ingestion, finding that larger mouth openings increase exposure to bigger plastic particles while insects also physically fragment larger microplastics into nanoplastics. The study highlights insects as both vectors of microplastic transfer through food webs and active contributors to nanoplastic generation in terrestrial environments.
A pilot study to assess carabids (Coleoptera: Carabidae) as potential bioindicators of microplastics contamination in soils
Researchers tested whether ground beetles (Carabids) could serve as bioindicators of microplastic contamination in soil, finding that 32% of sampled beetles had ingested microplastics — with ingestion rates reaching 87.5% at a heavily touristed beach. This pilot study suggests these common insects could offer a simple, cost-effective way to monitor soil plastic pollution.
Kimalaste kokkupuude mikroplastiga metsades, põldudel ja linnades
Researchers used bumblebees as bioindicators to assess terrestrial microplastic contamination across urban, agricultural, and forest environments in Estonia, finding that bees in urban areas — especially near busy highways — carried significantly higher microplastic loads on their body surfaces, with weather conditions (rain vs. dry heat) also influencing particle accumulation.
The fate of orally ingested microplastics during cooperative brood care in two social Hymenoptera species
Researchers exposed carpenter ant and bumblebee colonies to polystyrene microplastics and tracked particle fate during cooperative brood care, finding that ants' infrabuccal pocket effectively filtered particles and prevented larval exposure, while bumblebee larvae ingested microplastics transferred directly from workers, suggesting colony-level MP risks differ markedly by species anatomy.