Sublethal exposure to deltamethrin stimulates reproduction and has limited effects on post-hatching maternal care in the European earwig

Although pesticides are typically used to limit pest population, the diversity and nature of their unintentional effects on non-target organisms remain unclear. Better understanding these requires carry out risk assessments key physiological behavioral processes specific beneficial insects. In this study, we addressed question by exposing mothers European earwig (a insect) two sublethal doses deltamethrin common pesticide in agriculture) during family life measured short- long-term a series behavioral, physiological, reproductive traits. Somewhat surprisingly, our results first revealed that high low enhanced mothers’ future reproduction augmenting likelihood produce second clutch, shortening number days until its production, increasing resulting eggs hatching rate. Conversely, dose was detrimental, as it limited maternal brood defence, reduced food consumption expression self-grooming. Finally, other traits were independent exposure, such three proxies interactions (i.e., distance brood, occurrence, duration mother-offspring contacts), walking distance, mother weight gain life. Our study overall demonstrates exposure can have both positive negative It thus emphasizes focusing narrow parameters lead misleading conclusions about unintended impacts treated agro-ecosystems call for better considering integrated management programs.