scholarly journals Contact toxicity of three insecticides for use in tier I pesticide risk assessments with Megachile rotundata (Hymenoptera: Megachilidae)

PeerJ ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 9 ◽  
pp. e10744
Author(s):  
Graham R. Ansell ◽  
Andrew J. Frewin ◽  
Angela E. Gradish ◽  
Cynthia D. Scott-Dupree
Keyword(s):  
Risk Assessment ◽  
Apis Mellifera ◽  
Solitary Bees ◽  
Risk Assessments ◽  
Contact Toxicity ◽  
Megachile Rotundata ◽  
Surrogate Species ◽  
Pesticide Risk Assessment ◽  
Assessment Tests ◽  
Tier I

The current pesticide risk assessment paradigm may not adequately protect solitary bees as it focuses primarily on the honey bee (Apis mellifera). The alfalfa leafcutting bee (Megachile rotundata) is a potential surrogate species for use in pesticide risk assessment for solitary bees in North America. However, the toxicity of potential toxic reference standards to M. rotundata will need to be determined before pesticide risk assessment tests (tier I trials) can be implemented. Therefore, we assessed the acute topical toxicity and generated LD50 values for three insecticides: dimethoate (62.08 ng a.i./bee), permethrin (50.01 ng a.i./bee), and imidacloprid (12.82 ng a.i/bee). The variation in the mass of individual bees had a significant but small effect on these toxicity estimates. Overall, the toxicity of these insecticides to M. rotundata were within the 10-fold safety factor currently used with A. mellifera toxicity estimates from tier I trials to estimate risk to other bee species. Therefore, tier I pesticide risk assessments with solitary bees may not be necessary, and efforts could be directed to developing more realistic, higher-tier pesticide risk assessment trials for solitary bees.

scholarly journals Potential surrogate plants for use in semi-field pesticide risk assessment with Megachile rotundata

PeerJ ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 6 ◽  
pp. e6278
Author(s):  
Andrew J. Frewin ◽  
Angela E. Gradish ◽  
Graham R. Ansell ◽  
Cynthia D. Scott-Dupree
Keyword(s):  
Risk Assessment ◽  
Release Rate ◽  
Field Experiments ◽  
Field Testing ◽  
Field Studies ◽  
Solitary Bees ◽  
Assessment Process ◽  
Foraging Activity ◽  
Megachile Rotundata ◽  
Release Rates

Background Current regulatory pesticide risk assessments for bees are based primarily on the honey bee (Apis mellifera) and may not always be protective of solitary bees. To incorporate solitary bees into the risk assessment process, standardized methods to assess the hazard of pesticides under semi-field (Tier II) conditions will be needed. We conducted a series of experiments over 2 years to assess potential surrogate plants and adult release rates for use in semi-field experiments with the alfalfa leafcutting bee (ALB, Megachile rotundata). Methods We compared ALB foraging activity and reproduction on 12 m2 plots of flowering alfalfa (Medicago sativa) and buckwheat (Fagopyrum esculentum) at low (10♀/20♂) and high (20♀/40♂) adult release rates. The following year, we assessed the same endpoints on plots of purple tansy (Phacelia tanacetifolia) at a release rate of 10♀/15♂. Results Although ALB foraging activity was high on buckwheat plots, fewer adults were produced compared to alfalfa plots. On alfalfa, there were no differences in foraging activity, nesting, or reproduction between the low and high release rates. ALB readily foraged from purple tansy flowers, but females avoided purple tansy leaves for leaf cell construction. Discussion Our study suggests that buckwheat alone cannot support ALB during semi-field studies on small plots. For alfalfa, we recommend a maximum release rate of 10♀/20♂ in 12 m2 plots. Further study of higher ALB release rates on purple tansy is warranted. A mixed planting of purple tansy and a plant suitable for leaf piece collection (e.g., buckwheat) may provide favorable conditions for ALB activity and reproduction during semi-field testing.

scholarly journals Osmia bicornis is rarely an adequate regulatory surrogate species. Comparing its acute sensitivity towards multiple insecticides with regulatory Apis mellifera endpoints

2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Philipp Uhl ◽  
Osarobo Awanbor ◽  
Robert S. Schulz ◽  
Carsten A. Brühl
Keyword(s):  
Risk Assessment ◽  
Apis Mellifera ◽  
Honey Bee ◽  
Bombus Terrestris ◽  
Lethal Dose ◽  
Surrogate Species ◽  
Osmia Bicornis ◽  
Wild Bee ◽  
Key Driver ◽  
Assessment Factor

AbstractBee species provide essential ecosystem services and maintain floral biodiversity. However, there is an ongoing decline of wild and domesticated bee species. Since agricultural pesticide use is a key driver of this process, there is a need for a protective risk assessment. To achieve a more protective registration process, two wild bee species, Osmia bicornis and Bombus terrestris, were proposed by the European Food Safety Authority as additional test surrogates. We investigated the acute toxicity (median lethal dose, LD50) of multiple commercial insecticide formulations towards the red mason bee (O. bicornis) and compared these values to honey bee (Apis mellifera) regulatory endpoints. In two thirds of all cases O. bicornis was less sensitive than the honey bee. By applying an assessment factor of 10 on the honey bee endpoint a protective level was achieved for 87% (13 out 15) of all evaluated products. Our results show that O. bicornis as a non-sensitive species is rarely an adequate additional surrogate species for lower tier risk assessment. Given the currently limited database, the honey bee seems sufficiently protective in acute scenarios as long as a reasonable assessment factor is applied. However, additional surrogate species such as O. bicornis and B. terrestris are still relevant for ecologically meaningful higher tier studies.

Comparison of SCORE and Reynolds cardiovascular risk assessments in a cohort without cardiovascular disease

2013 ◽  
Vol 154 (43) ◽  
pp. 1709-1712 ◽  
Author(s):  
Csaba Móczár
Keyword(s):  
Cardiovascular Disease ◽  
Risk Assessment ◽  
Cardiovascular Risk ◽  
Screening Program ◽  
Risk Group ◽  
Scoring Systems ◽  
High Risk Group ◽  
Risk Assessments ◽  
Gender And Age ◽  
Medium Risk

Introduction: Cardiovascular risk assessment may help in the identification of symptom-free subjects with high cardiovascular risk. Aim: The author studied the correlation between SCORE and Reynolds risk assessment systems based on data from the cardiovascular risk screening program carried out in subjects without cardiovascular disease. Method: Data obtained from 4462 subjects (1977 men and 2485 women; mean age, 47,4 years) were analysed. The comparison was based on risk categories of the SCORE system. Results: There was a strong correlation between the two scoring systems in the low risk population (under <2% SCORE risk the Spearman rho = 1, p < 0.001). A weak correlation was found in the medium risk group (between 3–4% the Spearman rho = 0.59–0.49, p < 0.001 and between 10–14% the Spearman rho = 0.42, ns.) and a stronger correlation in the high risk group (>15% the Spearmen rho = 0.8, p = 0.017). When correlations were analysed in gender and age categories, the weakest correlation was detected in medium risk women over 40 years of age. In cases when the differences between the two scoring systems were significant, the hsCRP levels were significantly higher (4.1 vs. 5.67 mg/L, p < 0.001). Conclusions: Introduction of hsCRP into cardiovascular risk assessments can refine the risk status of symptom-free subjects, especially among intermediate risk middle-age women (two-step risk assessment). Orv. Hetil., 154 (43), 1709–1712.

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