Understanding insecticide detoxificiation in the leafcutter bee, Megachile rotundata

Lead Research Organisation: UNIVERSITY OF EXETER
Department Name: Biosciences

Abstract

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Publications

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Beadle K (2019) Genomic insights into neonicotinoid sensitivity in the solitary bee Osmia bicornis. in PLoS genetics

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Hayward A (2019) The leafcutter bee, Megachile rotundata, is more sensitive to N-cyanoamidine neonicotinoid and butenolide insecticides than other managed bees. in Nature ecology & evolution

Studentship Projects

Project Reference Relationship Related To Start End Student Name
BB/P504774/1 30/09/2016 21/03/2022
1929566 Studentship BB/P504774/1 30/09/2017 29/09/2021
 
Description Recent research has shown that several managed bee species have specific P450 enzymes that are preadapted to confer intrinsic tolerance to some insecticides including certain neonicotinoids. However, the universality of this finding across bee species is unclear. This research shows that the leafcutter bee, Megachile rotundata, lacks such P450s, and is >2500-fold more sensitive to the neonicotinoid thiacloprid and 170-fold more sensitive to the butenolide flupyradifurone than other managed bee pollinators.
Exploitation Route These findings have significant implications for the safe use of insecticides in crops where M. rotundata is used for pollination, and ensuring regulatory pesticide risk assessment frameworks are protective of this species. Furthermore, as Megachile is one of the largest genera of bees (1,500 species worldwide), further research is required to establish if other wild species within this genus also lack P450s that provide protection against certain insecticides.
Sectors Agriculture

Food and Drink

Environment