Data from: Neonicotinoid insecticides serve as inadvertent insect contraceptives

There is clear evidence for sublethal effects of neonicotinoid pesticides 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 reproductive capacity of male honey bees (drones), Apis mellifera. Drones were obtained from colonies exposed to the neonicotinoid pesticides or controls, and subsequently maintained in laboratory cages until they sexual matured. While no significant effects were observed for male teneral body mass and sperm quantity, the data clearly showed reduced drone lifespan, as well as reduced sperm viability (proportion living vs. dead) and living sperm quantity. Our results demonstrate for the first time that neonicotinoid pesticides can negatively affect male insect reproductive capacity, and provide a possible mechanistic explanation for managed honey bee queen failure and wild insect pollinator declines. The widespread prophylactic use of neonicotinoids may have previously overlooked contraceptive effects on non-target insects, thereby limiting conservation efforts.已有明确证据表明，新烟碱类杀虫剂（neonicotinoid pesticides）可对提供生态系统服务的非靶标昆虫产生亚致死效应。然而，尽管性别繁殖在昆虫生命活动中发挥关键作用，目前学界对这类杀虫剂对雄性昆虫生殖能力的潜在影响仍缺乏认知。 本研究证实，两种新烟碱类杀虫剂——4.5 ppb噻虫嗪（thiamethoxam）与1.5 ppb噻虫胺（clothianidin）——可显著降低西方蜜蜂（Apis mellifera）雄蜂的生殖能力。研究所用雄蜂均取自暴露于新烟碱类杀虫剂或对照组的蜂群，随后在实验室笼养至性成熟阶段。 尽管未观察到雄蜂初羽化体重与精子总量存在显著变化，实验数据清晰显示：雄蜂寿命缩短，同时精子活力（活精子占比）与活精子数量均显著下降。 本研究首次证实新烟碱类杀虫剂可对雄性昆虫的生殖能力产生负面影响，为人工饲养蜜蜂的蜂王失效问题与野生传粉昆虫种群衰退现象提供了潜在的机制性解释。新烟碱类杀虫剂的广泛预防性施用，可能此前一直被忽视了其对非靶标昆虫的隐性避孕效应，进而掣肘了相关昆虫保护工作的开展。