Bt Soybean Cry1Ac Does Not Affect Development, Reproduction, or Feeding Behavior of Red-Banded Stink Bug Piezodorus guildinii (Hemiptera: Pentatomidae).

Bt soybean cultivation is increasing worldwide. The Cry1Ac protein expressed in Bt soybean efficiently controls several lepidopteran pests. The stink bug, Piezodorus guildinii (Westwood), a major pest for soybean in the Americas, is not controlled by Bt crops, although possible sub-lethal effects may occur. Even if there were no negative effects for sting bug, ingesting toxins could affect its bio-controllers. We tested through ELISA detection if P. guildinii ingests Cry1Ac from Bt soybean and possible effects on its development, reproduction, survival, and feeding behavior. Biological traits were evaluated under controlled conditions of nymphs and adults feeding on pods of near-isogenic cultivars DM5958iPRO (Bt) and DM59i (non-Bt). Feeding behavior was recorded using an AC-DC electropenetrography (EPG) device. Results indicated that P. guildinii ingested the Cry1Ac protein; however, nymphal period and accumulated survival percentage did not differ between cultivars. Feeding on Bt soybean pods did not affect fecundity (i.e., number of egg masses and eggs/female) nor egg viability. Different feeding behaviors were only detected on the pathway phase (stylet penetration into plant tissue), which was more pronounced in the Bt cultivar. However, the total duration of the feeding activities on seeds was numerically higher (ca. 2X) on Bt plants compared to non-Bt. This is the first study to demonstrate that P. guildinii does ingest the Cry1Ac protein and excrete it without being absorbed, probably explaining the lack of direct adverse effects on its biological parameters. EPG could indicate that Bt soybean plants might be less palatable than non-Bt to red-banded stink bug.

Neonicotinoids transference from the field to the hive by honey bees: Towards a pesticide residues biomonitor.

The beehive as a quantitative monitor of pesticide residues applied over a soybean crop was studied through a semi field experiment of controlled exposure of honey bees to pesticides in macro tunnels. The distribution within exposed beehives of pesticides commonly used in soybean plantation, was assessed. Residue levels of insecticides in soybean leaves, honey bees, wax, honey and pollen were analyzed. The transference from pesticides present in the environment into the beehive was evidenced. The obtained results allow relating pesticide concentrations present in the environment with traces found in foraging bees. Therefore, pesticide transference ratios could be calculated for each detected compound (acetamiprid, imidacloprid and thiamethoxam) which showed a linear inverse trend with their 1-octanol/water partition coefficient (Kow). The least transferred pesticide to the hive (acetamiprid) has the highest vapor pressure (Vp). This study gives new insights on the usefulness of monitoring the environment through beehives aiming to evaluate if agroecosystems remain sustainable. It also contributes to generate valuable information for model building aiming to predict environmental quality through beehive's analysis.