[Pollinator] Honeybees as herbicide delivery systems

[Kimberly Winter]

>From MN-CA Beekeeper Jeff Anderson, a new ARS report:

http://www.ars.usda.gov/research/publications/Publications.htm?seq_no_115=191352

Research Project: BIOLOGICAL AND MANAGEMENT STRATEGIES TO INCREASE CROPPING 
EFFICIENCY IN SHORT-SEASON AND HIGH-STRESS ENVIRONMENTS
Location: Morris, Minnesota

Title: HONEYBEES AS NOVEL HERBICIDE DELIVERY SYSTEMS
Author:  Forcella, Frank

Submitted to: Meeting Abstract
Publication Type: Abstract
Publication Acceptance Date: February 16, 2006
Publication Date: February 16, 2006

Citation: Forcella, F. 2006. Honeybees as novel herbicide delivery systems 
[abstract]. Weed Science Society of America. p. 90.

Technical Abstract: Fecundity of several invasive weeds depends on honeybees 
(Apis mellifera). Such bee-pollinated species include yellow starthistle 
(Centaurea solstitialis), YST, and many other temperate and tropical plants. 
Because bees already transport a granular formulation of gametes (pollen) to 
flowers, we may ask whether they also could transport granular formulations 
of gameticides (seed inhibitors). As bees exit beehives, can they be dusted 
with a gameticide, which then is carried to flowers of invasive weeds? If 
this is possible, then gameticide facsimiles of pollen might eliminate seed 
production and thereby improve the long-term management of invasive weeds. 
Several herbicides are non-toxic to bees and are good candidates as 
gameticides. Preliminary tests on YST show that glufosinate inhibits seed 
development by more than 95% when applied at rates as low as 2 nanograms to 
individual flower heads. Pilot tests with honeybees show appreciable overlap 
between loadings of glufosinate on bees and efficacies for seed inhibition. 
If bees can be used to transport gameticides, then the following benefits 
arise: (a) A novel solution will have been developed to manage YST, an 
important weed in both natural and agricultural areas. (b) 
"Microsite-specific" vectoring of gameticides poses little risk to 
non-target organisms or the public. (c) The natural and intense synergy 
between introduced honeybees and an important invasive plant will be 
exploited. Finally, (d) such a model system can be extended to many other 
bee-pollinated invasive species.


Last Modified: 04/08/2006

~Kim

Kimberly Winter, Ph.D.
International Coordinator
North American Pollinator Protection Campaign
E-mail: NAPPCoordinator at hotmail.com
Internet: www.nappc.org
Ph: (301) 219-7030

Mailing Address:
0105"B" Cole Student Activities Bldg
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