Feeding preference and mortality of blue orchard bees (Osmia lignaria) exposed to the novel insecticides, flupyradifurone and sulfoxaflor

Several insect pests have developed resistance to older, commonly used insecticides, including many within the neonicotinoid class. Two novel insecticides, sulfoxaflor (Transform®) and flupyradifurone (Sivanto™), were recently registered and approved for use against sucking pests and have been effective against neonicotinoid resistant insects. Both Transform and Sivanto are approved for applications during bloom time, however, which increases the risk that foraging pollinators could be exposed to higher doses of the insecticides. Most research into the effects of pesticides on bee health has focused on honey bees (Apis mellifera). Because non-Apis bees can differ in their response to pesticide exposure, it is important to study the effects and risk of exposure of novel pesticides on solitary bees species, as well. An important pollinator in the North America is the blue orchard bee (Osmia lignaria), a native solitary species that is managed for its efficient pollination of fruit trees and vegetable crops. In this study, we exposed O. lignaria to doses of Transform and Sivanto equal to or beneath the field use concentrations, in order to calculate the LD50s of these insecticides. Additionally, we offered food prepared with low or high doses of these insecticides or no insecticides to O. lignaria and recorded any feeding preference or avoidance behavior. The results of this study will be presented and discussed.