Non?neonicotinoid pesticides impact bumblebee activity and pollen provisioning

Bees are essential pollinators of crops and wild plants their ability to forage pollinate key aspects behaviour. Bee populations under threat, with the use insecticides a contributing factor. Most research has focused on neonicotinoid bee mortality, little is known about impacts foraging delivery pollination services. However, other insecticide classes, such as organophosphates pyrethroids, increasingly used globally, but how these widely substances may impact bees, particularly non-honeybees. We exposed bumblebee Bombus terrestris colonies field-relevant doses pyrethroid (lambda-cyhalothrin) an organophosphate (dimethoate) investigated sublethal effects behaviour at individual colony level, in addition service semi-field conditions. show, for first time, that exposure chemicals activity pollen provisioning audax colonies, while no short-term flower handling or were detected. found dimethoate less active, 67% fewer bees leaving than control those returned, 92% returned provisions nest. Colonies lambda-cyhalothrin did not differ activity; however, 62% provisions. Policy implications. These findings give important insights into different classes could provision required development. With focus neonicotinoids terms policy changes regarding we show should also be re-examined relation potential risks pollinators. confirm need improve risk assessment assess effects, include non-honeybee species processes consider behaviours interactions plants.