Methodology. A bi-tunnel method developed to investigate the side-effects of systemic seed dressings or systemic soil treatments on honeybees, Apis mellifera | [Méthodologie. Développement d'une méthode bi-tunnel pour évaluer les effets secondaires de l'enrobage des semences et des traitements systémiques du sol sur les abeilles, Apis mellifera]
2001
Candolfi, M. ((Novartis Crop Protection AG, Basel (Suisse). Ecotoxicology)) | Servajean, E.
A semi-field method was developed to assess the side-effects of systemic seed dressings or systemic soil treatments with plant protection products on honeybees (Apis mellifèra), which allows a direct pre- and post-treatment comparison of the effects. The proposed methodology takes also into account the requirements outlined in the EPPO 170, BBA VI,23-1 and C.E.B. 129 guidelines. The study design is based on the release of bees in a bi-tunnel system: two adjacent tunnels, each 20 m x 8 m wide and a height of 3.5 m at the highest point, covered with a white fine mesh plastic netting. Three replicated bi-tunnels per treatment and the control are set up. In all the control plots, both tunnels of each replicate are untreated and therefore planted only with control plants, while in the test item replicates one tunnel is untreated (i.e. planted with control plants) and the second tunnel is treated (e.g. dressed seeds, treated soil). In order to prolong the exposure time of the bees (flowering plants available over a longer period), the crop planting is staggered. Bee colonies headed by sister queens with a size of approximately 10000-15000 bees will be set up at one end of the bitunnel between the 2 tunnels. Each hive is provided with a pollen trap, a dead bee trap and Apiscan. A removable netting between the two tunnels allows to control in which tunnel(s) the bees will be able to forage. The complete study consists of 3 successive periods of exposure (each exposure 5-7 days) of the bees: (1) bees will be allowed to invade the untreated half of the bi-tunnel and the behavior of each individual colony will be assessed, (2) the netting separating the 2 tunnels will be removed and the bees will be allowed to freely invade the treated and untreated areas (dynamics of invasion and the behavior of colonies will be assessed in order to study potential repellent effects) and (3) the bees will be confined in the second tunnel (treated tunnel) and behavior of colonies observed
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