The negative impacts of organosilicone surfactant components on honey bee (Hymenoptera: Apidae) reproduction and viral replication

Frequently, beekeepers report honey bee (Apis mellifera) colony losses following almond pollination that are characterized by heavy brood loss and/or dwindling worker populations, and queen loss is a major concern throughout the year. Colony losses following almond pollination have been widely attributed to applications of insect growth disruptors, fungicides, and adjuvants to blooming trees. One obstacle to reducing the exposure of honey bees to harmful adjuvants is that even if one formulated adjuvant product is demonstrated to be harmful, another product containing the same or similar ingredients can be sold under a different name with labeling constraints, making it difficult for even conscientious growers to select adjuvants based on their safety to pollinators. In this presentation, the results of a study demonstrating the negative effects of three commonly used trisiloxane/organosilicone surfactant adjuvant formulants at environmentally relevant concentrations on honey bee reproduction and viral replication will be presented. These results and their implications for queen and colony health will be discussed.