NEW INSECTICDES & HONEY BEE COLONY COLLAPSE Bob Bruss Inspector Meeting October 27 – 29, 2008 NCDA &CS Steve Troxler - Commissioner

Insecticide MOA 1º Sites  Nervous System  Energy Production  Muscle Contraction  Endocrine System  Chitin Production  Gut Toxin  Lipid Biosynthesis  Water Balance

Nervous System

DuPont Crop Protection ACh Excitatory Neuron Motor Neuron Muscle GABA Glut AChE Na + /K + channels M M Mitochondria Insect Neuromuscular Signaling Pathway Cl - channels Na + /K + channels Ca + stores ACh

Nervous System  Pyrethrins / Pyrethroids / DDT Analogues  inhibits closing of Na + channels  pyrethrin I & II / permethrin, cyfluthrin  DDT, DDE, methoxychlor  Oxadiazines (indoxacarb)  blocks Na + channels  Phenyl pyrazoles (fipronil) / Cyclodienes  blocks GABA mediated Cl - channels  chlordane, heptachlor, dieldrin, endrin

New Nerve Poisons  Oxadiazines  indoxacarb only U.S. representative (DuPont)  Avaunt (fruit/veg), Advion (baits), Steward  pro-insecticide / gut-activated / slow acting  rapid photodegradation / mod. soil residual  Phenyl pyrazoles  fipronil only U.S. representative (BASF)  Regent (corn), Frontline (fleas), Termidor  rapid photodegradation / long soil residual

Nervous System  Chloronicotinyls / Nicotine / Spinosad  activates acetylcholine (ACh) receptors  CNI: imidacloprid, acetamiprid, thiamethoxam  spinosads: spinosyn A, spinosyn B  Organophosphates / Carbamates  inhibits acetylcholinesterase (AChE)  carbamates much more reversible  parathion, diazinon / carbaryl, aldicarb  Solanaceae: solanine, chaconine, tomatine

Nervous System  Atropine  blocks acetylcholine (ACh) receptors  antidote for AChE poisoning  Macrolactones (avermectins)  blocks glutamate mediated Cl - channels  emamectin benzoate (Denim) derived from abamectin

DuPont Crop Protection Targets Below Reflect MoA for > 90% of Commercial Insecticides ACh Excitatory Neuron Motor Neuron Muscle GABA Glut AChE Na + /K + channels M M OPs Carbamates Mitochondrial Insecticides Neonicotinoids Spinosad Pyrethroids Indoxacarb Cyclodienes Fipronil Insect Neuromuscular Signaling Pathway Cl - channels Avermectins Ca + stores

Energy Production  Pyrroles  chlorfenapyr only U.S. representative  disrupts ATP formation in mitochondria  pro-insecticide (bio-activated to toxin)  poorly activated in mammals  some birds sensitive (no crops – Pirate)  Phantom (termites/ants)  Pylon (greenhouse vegs & ornamentals)  long soil residual

Muscle Contraction  Anthranilic diamides (DuPont)  chlorantraniliprole 1 st U.S. representative  Rynaxypyr ® trademark for a.i.  activates insect ryanodine receptors  Ca + released – muscles contract  vertebrate receptors much less sensitive  rapid leaf penetration limits contact action controls caterpillars & some beetle larvae controls caterpillars & some beetle larvae  persistent residues but low hazard  Altacor (fruit), Coragen (veg), Acelepryn (T&O)

Endocrine System  Juvenile Hormone mimics  insect retains juvenile moult fleas & biting flies fleas & biting flies  analogs: methoprene, hydroprene, kinoprene  others: fenoxycarb, pyriproxyfen  Ecdysone agonists (moulting disruptors)  diacylhydrazines: tebufenozide (Confirm)  azadirachtin  slow acting

Chitin Production & Gut Toxins  Chitin biosynthesis inhibitors  chitin: insect exoskeleton polysaccharide  benzoylurea IGRs diflubenzuron (Dimilin), novaluron (Rimon) diflubenzuron (Dimilin), novaluron (Rimon)  buprofezin (Applaud)  Bacillus thuringiensis  microbial toxins disrupts midgut membrane  many B.t. subspecies with multiple toxic proteins  fermentation products (Dipel, Javelin)  transgenic plants

Lipid Synthesis Inhibitors  Tetronic acids (ketonenols) - Bayer  blocks formation of lipids; systemic  most active against mites & sucking insects  spirodiclofen (Envidor) fruits & nuts: spider mites & rust mites fruits & nuts: spider mites & rust mites  spiromesifen spider mites, whiteflies & psyllids spider mites, whiteflies & psyllids Oberon: field crops & vegetables Oberon: field crops & vegetables Judo: greenhouse & nursery; Forbid: landscapes Judo: greenhouse & nursery; Forbid: landscapes  spirotetramat (Movento) – EPA cond. June 08 aphids, mealy bugs, whiteflies, scales aphids, mealy bugs, whiteflies, scales

Water Balance Products  Abrade or dissolve insect wax layer  Thorough coverage important  Boric acid  Oils

COLONY COLLAPSE DISORDER ERIC MUSSEN EXTENSION APICULTURIST UC DAVIS

Main Topics of Discussion Description of Colony Collapse Disorder (CCD)  Description of Colony Collapse Disorder (CCD)  Possible Causes of CCD  Pesticide Concerns with Honey Bees

Signs of CCD Nearly all bees fly from hive  Nearly all bees fly from hive  quickly: 2-10 days  Sometimes, queen and a few newly emerged adults left behind  Sometimes, brood (eggs, larvae, pupae) remain in combs  will succumb to lack of feed and incubation

Signs of CCD Stores remain in the combs  Stores remain in the combs  honey & “bee bread” (stored pollens)  Stores seem to be toxic to immediately re-introduced colony  combs suitable after they have “dried out,” been fumigated, or irradiated  Stores not scavenged by hive pests  more attractive after combs dry out

Who is being impacted?  Overall 2007 figures  Colony losses of over 30% reported Normal loss of 15% expectedNormal loss of 15% expected  24% of beekeepers with CCD losses  Operations with CCD had losses of 45%  Large commercial migratory beekeepers  Reporting losses 50-90%  CA, FL, TX  CCD in 36 states (including NC)

Causes of CCD? Electromagnetic waves (especially cell phones) interfering with navigation  Electromagnetic waves (especially cell phones) interfering with navigation not likely  not likely  honey bees rely on landmarks to find their way home  honey bees rely on polarized atmospheric light to interpret the “bee dances”

Causes of CCD? Genetically modified (GM) plants  Genetically modified (GM) plants  not likely  Roundup Ready genes/enzymes, should not impact honey bees  Bt genes, or induced parasporal body protein, should not impact honey bees tested against caterpillars and against honey bees of various life stagestested against caterpillars and against honey bees of various life stages

Causes of CCD? Malnutrition  Malnutrition  likely to be playing a part  key element in honey bee health inherent resistance dependent on nutrition inherent resistance dependent on nutrition  each colony requires one acre of blossoms, daily, to meet nutritional needs has a 50 square mile foraging area has a 50 square mile foraging area

Causes of CCD? Malnutrition  Malnutrition  honey bees require a mix of pollens to meet their nutritional needs  natural foods often hard to find foraging habitat converted to houses, streets, highways, shopping malls, parking lots, airports and runways, and agricultural fields foraging habitat converted to houses, streets, highways, shopping malls, parking lots, airports and runways, and agricultural fields  weather becoming more unpredictable drought or excessive moisture both can prevent honey bees from obtaining required food drought or excessive moisture both can prevent honey bees from obtaining required food

Causes of CCD? Infectious diseases  Infectious diseases  bacterial – not often a problem for adult honey bees  viral – at least 20 known in honey bees only a few cause recognizable signs of disease only a few cause recognizable signs of disease recently discovered Israeli Acute Paralysis Virus (IAPV) was described as a “marker” for CCD, but not necessarily the cause recently discovered Israeli Acute Paralysis Virus (IAPV) was described as a “marker” for CCD, but not necessarily the cause IAPV eventually was found in U.S. bee samples from a decade ago IAPV eventually was found in U.S. bee samples from a decade ago

Causes of CCD? Infectious diseases  Infectious diseases  fungal – only one genus of fungi is problematic to adult honey bees – Nosema  N. ceranae was discovered in CCD studies N. ceranae (Asia) seems to have displaced our old N. apis (Europe), completely N. ceranae (Asia) seems to have displaced our old N. apis (Europe), completely  N. ceranae also was detected in decade old U.S. bee samples not likely the cause of CCD not likely the cause of CCD

Causes of CCD? Pesticides  Pesticides  Generally, only some insecticides and acaricides are toxic to honey bees  Three carboxamide fungicides were toxic to honey bee brood in UC Davis studies captan captan iprodione (Rovral, Chipco 26019) iprodione (Rovral, Chipco 26019) boscalid (Endura, Pristine, Pageant) boscalid (Endura, Pristine, Pageant) excellent activity on brown rot blossom blight excellent activity on brown rot blossom blight there are no bee toxicity warnings on the labels there are no bee toxicity warnings on the labels

Causes of CCD? Pesticides  Pesticides  Active Ingredient Toxicity: The inherent capacity of the chemical to harm an individual bee in a standard exposure test. i.e. oral or contact LD 50i.e. oral or contact LD 50  Product Hazard: Potential for the formulated material to harm individual bees or colonies when used as directed by the label.  Sublethal Effect: Dose insufficient to cause death but the treatment has a measurable adverse consequence on survival

Honey Bee Apis mellifera

NCDA & CS Steve Troxler - Commissioner

Causes of CCD? Pesticide residues found in CCD hives  Pesticide residues found in CCD hives  analyzed 108 pollen and 88 beeswax samples for 171 chemicals  26 insecticides  14 fungicides  6 herbicides  6 insecticide metabolites  as many as 17 different pesticides in one sample

Causes of CCD? Pesticides found in CCD hives  Pesticides found in CCD hives  all major classes: chlorinated hydrocarbons, organophosphates, carbamates, pyrethroids, neonicotinoids, insect growth regulators  Varroa mite control products – fluvalinate and coumaphos most prevalent (71 and 59% of pollen samples - 100% of beeswax samples)  chlorpyriphos (Lorsban) next highest (55% in pollen and 77% in beeswax)  boscalid (a component of Pristine) was sixth most prevalent in beeswax (13%)

Causes of CCD? Worldwide, imidacloprid is suspected of causing honey bee colony mortality, including CCD-like collapses  Worldwide, imidacloprid is suspected of causing honey bee colony mortality, including CCD-like collapses  neonicotinoid = chloronicotinyl insecticide  imidacloprid is systemic in plants  imidacloprid is fairly harmless to mammals, birds and fishes, but it is exceptionally toxic to invertebrates, including honey bees

Causes of CCD? Imidacloprid and honey bees  Imidacloprid and honey bees  Bayer report states that 192 ppb is oral LD 50 for adult honey bees  Bayer reported that <10 ppb occurs in nectar/pollen of treated sunflowers & canola  UC Riverside researchers found 550 ppb in nectar from treated red gum Eucalyptus, a favorite source of winter bee forage in CA  2-3 ppb in sugar syrup causes changes in behavior and learning in adult honey bees

Causes of CCD? Imidacloprid and honey bees  Imidacloprid and honey bees  imidacloprid registered in 1991  off-patent in 2006  ingredient of 303 products registered in NC  Clothianidin linked to German bee kills  another CNI  seed treatment alleged to cause kill – how?  NC: seed treatment (Poncho) & sprayable products (Aloft, Belay, Clutch)

Protection of Honey Bees Protection should start at home  Protection should start at home  Apiculture at NCSU – Beekeeping Notes Dr. John Ambrose & Dr. David TarpyDr. John Ambrose & Dr. David Tarpy  How to Reduce Bee Poisoning from Pesticides, PNW 591 H. Riedl, E. Johansen, L. Brewer, and J. Barbour H. Riedl, E. Johansen, L. Brewer, and J. Barbour provides length of residual toxicity in the field, from hours to days provides length of residual toxicity in the field, from hours to days

Protection of Honey Bees Registration process (EPA) – “Non- targets”  Registration process (EPA) – “Non- targets”  Acute toxicities for adult honey bees required  Is a label a legal mandate?  Admire (imidacloprid) – “Do not apply this product or allow it to drift to blooming cropsor weeds if bees are visiting the treatment area.”  Does violating that label “break the law?”

Summary U.S. beekeepers currently are dealing with expected annual losses of 15-25% of their colonies  U.S. beekeepers currently are dealing with expected annual losses of 15-25% of their colonies  due to parasites, diseases & exposure to toxic chemicals  The 30-90% CCD losses appear to have additional causes  Colonies can be protected better from exposure to toxic chemicals

Thank You NCDA & CS Steve Troxler - Commissioner