Data from: Low dose of neonicotinoid insecticide reduces foraging motivation of bumblebees

Widespread use of neonicotinoid insecticides, such as imidacloprid, is
often associated with diminishing populations of bees; this loss of
pollinators presents a concern for food security and may cause
unpredictable changes in ecological networks. However, little is known
about the potential behavioral mechanisms behind the
neonicotinoid-associated pollinator decline. We quantified the effects of
low dose (1 ppb) imidacloprid exposure on the foraging behaviour of
bumblebees (Bombus terrestris). Individual bumblebees were released into a
flight arena containing three patches of robotic flowers whose colour
(yellow, orange, blue) indicated whether the flower delivered a reward
(sugar solution). Exposure to imidacloprid had no significant effect on
measures of bumblebee physical performance (such as flight speed) or
learning (identifying rewarding flowers). However, pesticide treated
bumblebees had reduced foraging motivation compared with the control
bumblebees, as they visited fewer robotic flowers, were slower to start
foraging and did not visit all three flower colours as often.
Neonicotinoid concentrations of 1 ppb, often reported in plant nectar near
agricultural lands, can thus affect the foraging behaviour of bumblebees.
Even without a notable impact on flight performance and learning, a
reduction in foraging motivation could explain the poor performance of
colonies of bumblebees exposed to neonicotinoids.