DefinePK

Abstract

Honey bees ( Apis mellifera L.), vital agricultural pollinators, face growing threats from insecticide exposure, highlighting the need to understand their trophic-level impacts for sustainable apiculture and crop production. The present study aimed to evaluate the effects of three insecticides viz., flonicamid, pyrifluquinazon, and nitenpyram, on colony strength and honey quality. A sunflower crop was cultivated at four distinct locations, where twelve honey bee colonies were established (three per site). Each colony was either exposed to one of the insecticides or maintained as a pesticide-free control. Standardized protocols were employed to assess adult bee population, brood area, honey yield, and honey quality parameters. The lowest adult bee population (11,874 ± 512.95 bees/colony), brood area (807.14 ± 19.65 cm²), and honey yield (3.44 ± 0.19 Kg/colony) were observed in pyrifluquinazon-treated colonies. In contrast, control colonies exhibited the highest values for adult bee population (20,499 ± 487.31 bees/colony), brood area (1297.8 ± 9.73 cm²), and honey yield (8.24 ± 0.22 kg/colony). Colonies exposed to nitenpyram showed intermediate effects across all measured parameters. A similar trend was observed in honey quality, with pyrifluquinazon-treated colonies producing honey with the lowest enzymatic and antioxidant profiles, followed by flonicamid and nitenpyram. These findings reveal that insecticide exposure disrupts colony health and honey quality, emphasizing the need to avoid pyrifluquinazon and flonicamid during crop bloom and to carefully time nitenpyram applications. Pollinator-safe pest management is essential for sustainable agriculture and food security.