Study on identification and quantification of insecticide/pesticide residues in some hive products from rape and sunflower crops in the active season 2020

Abstract

Bee poisoning causes economic damage to both beekeepers and farmers by influencing pollination, mortality and depopulation of bee families. The purpose of the paper was to establish the impact of insecticides/pesticides used to combat plant pests on bees and hive products in the 2020 beekeeping year, in two research and development stations (Fundulea, Albota) and a private beehive belonging to a beekeeper from Secuieni Neamt. A total of 9 clinically healthy and untreated for parasites bee families (experimental group) were monitored, both at rape and sunflower harvest, which were located in the 3 different locations. 24 samples (live bees, pollen/bee bread, and honeycomb/brood) were collected from each rape (12 samples) and sunflower (12 samples) harvest, which were sent to an ISO 17025 accredited laboratory for the determination of insecticide/pesticide levels. After the rape and sunflower harvest, the results of the toxicological examination showed a number of 5 positive samples (20,83%), of which three in rape (12,5%) and two in sunflower (8,33%), having a contamination with the neonicotinoid insecticide acetamiprid, contamination with various insecticides, fungicides (some banned in Europe) and acaricides. The spring inspection, carried out after the inactive season in the bee families introduced in the experiment after the active beekeeping season 2020, revealed the occurrence of bee losses through progressive depopulation, with their weakening power.