Neonicotinoid insecticides can serve as inadvertent insect contraceptives

dc.contributor.authorStraub, Lars
dc.contributor.authorVillamar-Bouza, Laura
dc.contributor.authorBruckner, Selina
dc.contributor.authorChantawannakul, Panuwan
dc.contributor.authorGauthier, Laurent
dc.contributor.authorKhongphinitbunjong, Kitiphong
dc.contributor.authorRetschnig, Gina
dc.contributor.authorTroxler, Aline
dc.contributor.authorVidondo, Beatriz
dc.contributor.authorNeumann, Peter
dc.contributor.authorWilliams, Geoffrey R.
dc.date.accessioned2016-09-27T05:53:40Z
dc.date.available2016-09-27T05:53:40Z
dc.date.issued2016-05-06
dc.description.abstractThere is clear evidence for sublethal effects of neonicotinoid insecticides on non-target ecosystem service-providing insects. However, their possible impact on male insect reproduction is currently unknown, despite the key role of sex. Here, we show that two neonicotinoids (4.5 ppb thiamethoxam and 1.5 ppb clothianidin) significantly reduce the reproductive capacity of male honeybees (drones), Apis mellifera. Drones were obtained from colonies exposed to the neonicotinoid insecticides or controls, and subsequently maintained in laboratory cages until they reached sexual maturity. While no significant effects were observed for male teneral (newly emerged adult) body mass and sperm quantity, the data clearly showed reduced drone lifespan, as well as reduced sperm viability (percentage living versus dead) and living sperm quantity by 39%. Our results demonstrate for the first time that neonicotinoid insecticides can negatively affect male insect reproductive capacity, and provide a possible mechanistic explanation formanaged honeybee queen failure andwild insect pollinator decline. Thewidespread prophylactic use of neonicotinoids may have previously overlooked inadvertent contraceptive effects on non-target insects, thereby limiting conservation efforts.en_ZA
dc.description.departmentZoology and Entomologyen_ZA
dc.description.librarianam2016en_ZA
dc.description.sponsorshipBundesamt fur Umwelt (BAFU) to L.S., P.N., and G.R.W., by Agroscope to G.R.W., by the Vinetum Foundation to P.N., by ETH Global (People Exchange Grant) to K.K. and by Chiang Mai University Fund to P.N. and G.R.W.en_ZA
dc.description.urihttp://rspb.royalsocietypublishing.orgen_ZA
dc.identifier.citationStraub, L., Villamar-Bouza, L., Bruckner, S., Chantawannakul, P., Gauthier, L., Khongphinitbunjong, K., Retschnig, G., Troxler, A., Vidondo, B., Neumann, P. & Williams, G.R. 2016 Neonicotinoid insecticides can serve as inadvertent insect contraceptives. Proceedings of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences 283: 20160506, pp. 1-7.en_ZA
dc.identifier.issn0962-8452 (print)
dc.identifier.issn1471-2954 (online)
dc.identifier.other10.1098/rspb.2016.0506
dc.identifier.other10.5061/dryad.bs515
dc.identifier.urihttp://hdl.handle.net/2263/57026
dc.language.isoenen_ZA
dc.publisherThe Royal Societyen_ZA
dc.rights© 2016 The Authors. Published by the Royal Society under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License.en_ZA
dc.subjectApis melliferaen_ZA
dc.subjectInsecticideen_ZA
dc.subjectPollinationen_ZA
dc.subjectReproductionen_ZA
dc.subjectSpermen_ZA
dc.subjectSub-lethalen_ZA
dc.titleNeonicotinoid insecticides can serve as inadvertent insect contraceptivesen_ZA
dc.typeArticleen_ZA

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