Title
Varying impact of neonicotinoid insecticide and acute bee paralysis virus across castes and colonies of black garden ants, Lasius niger (Hymenoptera: Formicidae)
Date Issued
01 December 2021
Access level
open access
Resource Type
journal article
Author(s)
Schläppi D.
Kettler N.
Glauser G.
Straub L.
Neumann P.
University of Bern
Publisher(s)
Nature Research
Abstract
Pesticides and pathogens are known drivers of declines in global entomofauna. However, interactions between pesticides and viruses, which could range from antagonistic, over additive to synergistic, are poorly understood in ants. Here, we show that in ants the impact of single and combined pesticide and virus stressors can vary across castes and at the colony level. A fully-crossed laboratory assay was used to evaluate interactions between a sublethal dose of the neonicotinoid thiamethoxam and Acute bee paralysis virus (ABPV) in black garden ants, Lasius niger. After monitoring colonies over 64 weeks, body mass, neonicotinoid residues and virus titres of workers and queens, as well as worker behavioural activity were measured. ABPV, but not thiamethoxam, reduced activity of workers. Neonicotinoid exposure resulted in reduced body mass of workers, but not of queens. Further, thiamethoxam facilitated ABPV infections in queens, but not in workers. Overall, virus exposure did not compromise detoxification and body mass, but one colony showed high virus titres and worker mortality. Although the data suggest additive effects at the level of individuals and castes, co-exposure with both stressors elicited antagonistic effects on colony size. Our results create demand for long-term holistic risk assessment of individual stressors and their interactions to protect biodiversity.
Volume
11
Issue
1
Language
English
OCDE Knowledge area
Zoología, Ornitología, Entomología, ciencias biológicas del comportamiento
Scopus EID
2-s2.0-85117361313
PubMed ID
Source
Scientific Reports
ISSN of the container
20452322
Sponsor(s)
We wish to thank the editors of Scientific Reports as well as all the reviewers for constructive comments on earlier drafts. Financial support was provided by the Béatrice Ederer-Weber Foundation to P.N, the Bundesamt für Umwelt (BAFU) (16.0091.PJ/R102-1664) to L.S. and P.N., and by the Vinetum Foundation to P.N. We wish to thank Kaspar Roth and Elodie Cristina for laboratory assistance.
Sources of information: Directorio de Producción Científica Scopus