Data from: Lethal and sublethal synergistic effects of a new systemic pesticide, flupyradifurone (Sivanto®) on honey bees

The honey bee (Apis mellifera L.) is an important pollinator and a model
for pesticide effects on insect pollinators. The effects of agricultural
pesticides on honey bee health have therefore raised concern. Bees can be
exposed to multiple pesticides that may interact synergistically,
amplifying their side-effects. Attention has focused on neonicotinoid
pesticides, but flupyradifurone (FPF) is a novel butenolide insecticide
that is also systemic and a nicotinic acetylcholine receptor (nAChR)
agonist. We therefore tested the lethal and sublethal toxic effects of FPF
over different seasons and worker types, and the interaction of FPF with a
common SBI fungicide, propiconazole. We provide the first demonstration of
adverse synergistic effects on bee survival and behaviour (poor
coordination, hyperactivity, apathy) at field-realistic doses. Pesticide
effects were significantly influenced by worker type and season. Foragers
were consistently more susceptible to these pesticides (4-fold greater
effect) than in-hive bees, and both worker types were more strongly
affected by FPF in summer as compared to spring. Because risk assessment
requires relatively limited tests that only marginally address bee
behaviour and do not consider the influence of bee age and season, our
results raise concerns about the safety of approved pesticides, including
FPF. We suggest that pesticide risk assessment also test for common
chemical mixture synergies on behaviour and survival.