Sensitivities of three bumblebee species to four pesticides applied commonly in greenhouses in China

This study was conducted to evaluate the effects of four pesticides （Mosplian, Kingbo, Score and Lvrtong） applied commonly in greenhouses in China, on three bumblebee species （Bombus hypocrita, Bombus ignitus and Bombuspatagiatus）. The study used a contact experiment and oral toxicity LD50 values. The results showed that the mortality for B. hypocrita after contacting the four pesticides was significantly lower than B. patagiatus and B. ignitus, but there was no significant difference between B. patagiatus and B. ignitus. The oral toxicity median lethal dose （LD50） value of Mosplian to B. hypocrita （0.0028/zg active ingredient/bee） was significantly higher than that to B. ignitus （0.0023μg active ingredient/bee） and B. patagiatus （0.0021μg active ingredient/bee）. Of the bee species, it can be concluded that B. hypocrita was the least susceptible to the four pesticides. The mortality rates of each bumblebee species after contact with Mosplian were significantly higher than for the other three pesticides and the control group. For Kingbo, the rates were significantly higher than the control group, but Score and Lvrtong exposed groups showed no significant increase in mortality relative to the control group. It can therefore be concluded that the pesticides differ in their negative influences on bumblebees, and that Mosplian is the most harmful.