Avaluació dels impactes del fipronil en els himenòpters pol·linitzadors

Abstract

Recent years have seen a significant decline on flying pollinator populations worldwide. These are essential for the planet’s biodiversity, the stability of natural ecosystems and food security, but they are also of great economic importance. However, they are exposed to stress factors that can endanger their good development and health. The main culprits are habitat loss,

climate change, biological invasions and the use of plant protection products, which has been

increasing since the 1990s. One of the most commonly used insecticides is fipronil. It is a broad spectrum insecticide which is used to control pests, but ultimately affects non-target organisms. Because of its neurotoxic nature it is very harmful. That is why its use has been restricted at European Union level.

The objective of the study is to assess the impact of fipronil on flying pollinators of the order

Hymenoptera, and that the results can be used as a consultation document for beekeepers,

farmers and authorities related to the uses of plant protection products, to create awareness

of the effects that this product can cause on non-target organisms and make appropriate use.

For this reason, a bibliographic review is carried out. All information has been searched in the

Web of Science database as of February 2023. The search was performed using "fipronil and

(bee OR bees OR hornet* OR wasp* OR pollinator*)". 296 articles were found, but finally only

127 deal with flying pollinators of the order Hymenoptera, which will be the ones that will finally

be studied. Most of the selected articles study the impacts of fipronil on adult individuals of

different pollinators, mostly honeybee (Apis mellifera). These effects are also compared with

three of the most commonly used neonicotinoids, such as imidacloprid, thiamethoxam, and

clothianidin. The results show that fipronil is responsible for the death of a large number of flying pollinators,

but it has also been found to cause very varied sublethal effects, such as morphological

alterations, alterations in motor activity, changes in enzyme activity, cognitive functions, fertility

and longevity, among others