The development of the solitary bee Osmia bicornis is affected by some insecticide agrochemicals at environmentally relevant concentrations

Solitary bees provide essential pollination services for many arable crops, but are prone to global decline. Agricultural intensification, which is connected with pesticide usage, among major threats and, thus, the food security and ecosystem stability. As it may not be possible cease usage currently because of growing demand food, crucial understand toxicities better protection pollinator populations. The majority studies have focused on social bees, those solitary studied effects adult exposure, whereas these also likely exposed as larvae via consumption contaminated pollen. Here, three commonly used insecticide-based plant products development bee, Osmia bicornis (red mason bee), were by exposing insecticide-contaminated multifloral tested insecticides were: Dursban480EC, containing organophosphate chlorpyrifos (CHP), Sherpa100EC, pyrethroid cypermethrin (CYP), Mospilan20SP neonicotinoid acetamiprid (ACT). When compared control fed uncontaminated-pollen, both CHP CYP significantly reduced O. larval survival their body mass at all concentrations. In contrast, ACT did affect either or mass, length stage cocoon formation was shortened controls. None affected cocooned individuals. However, least 80% individuals any died before reaching stage, 43% controls emerged successfully after overwintering. Although no clear monotonic dose-response relationships found, our study showed that some insecticide formulations even concentrations actually found in pollen field, indicating an urgent need revising current recommendations.