Pesticide residues used for pest control in honeybee colonies located in agroindustrial areas of Argentina

Abstract

With the aim of mitigating the negative impact of pests on agriculture, different agrochemicals are being used to maintain pest populations below an acceptable threshold of economic viability. The use of these chemical compounds, or even their misuse, can generate undesirable effects in the ecosystems and non-target organisms. World agricultural production depends on pollinators to generate 35% of food. Bees provide almost 75% of the pollination services worldwide. The objective of this study was to determine the agrochemical residues in honey obtained from Apis mellifera colonies located in agro-industrial regions of Argentina. Fifty honey samples form beehive pools of Santa Fe, Córdoba, La Rioja, Formosa, Entre Rios, Corrientes, Buenos Aires, Neuquén, and Río Negro provinces were analyzed. Out of all the samples analyzed, 88% had pesticide residues, being endosulfan sulfate the most widely chemical product reported. This information can be used to identify the provinces at higher risk for developing beekeeping activities, since the presence of these products in beehives can have a negative effect on this industry.