Glyphosate-based herbicide increases the number of foraging trips but does not affect the homing of Bombus terrestris




Kaakinen, Kimmo; Ramula, Satu; Helander, Marjo

PublisherSPRINGER

PARIS

2025

Apidologie

APIDOLOGIE

APIDOLOGIE

54

56

2

16

0044-8435

1297-9678

DOIhttps://doi.org/10.1007/s13592-025-01180-1

https://doi.org/10.1007/s13592-025-01180-1

https://research.utu.fi/converis/portal/detail/Publication/491758378



The intensification of pesticide use is believed to be one of the main causes of the global decline in pollinators. The ability to forage resources effectively and return to the colony is crucial for individual eusocial bees and their colonies, and some pesticides are known to disturb this ability. Our study investigated the effects of the most widely used type of pesticide, glyphosate-based herbicides (GBHs), on the foraging and homing ability of the buff-tailed bumblebee, Bombus terrestris (L.) (Hymenoptera: Apidae). We conducted two experiments in which we exposed bees to field-realistic doses of GBH at colony and/or individual levels and observed their foraging activity and the homing ability of displaced bees. We found that 24-h colony-level GBH exposure increased the number of bumblebees’ foraging bouts, but it did not affect the duration of bouts or the homing ability. Regarding the homing rate, there was a marginally significant interaction between acute individual-level treatment and release distance from the colony. Even though the negligible impacts of short-term GBH exposure on homing ability are encouraging, the greater number of (possibly unnecessary) foraging bouts after colonylevel GBH exposure might be costly for bumblebees.


Open Access funding provided by University of Turku (including Turku University Central Hospital). This work
was supported by the Academy of Finland (grant number 311077), Novo Nordisk Foundation (grant NNF0093951)
and the Finnish Cultural Foundation to MH. Academy of Finland , 311077, Marjo Helander,Suomen Kulttuurirahasto,Novo Nordisk Fonden,NNF0093951,Marjo Helander


Last updated on 2025-12-05 at 09:06