Impatto di un comune pesticida, sulfoxaflor, sulle abilità riproduttive dell’ape solitaria Osmia bicornis.

Among the most efficient pollinators for agriculture and subsistence are solitary bees, generally less known than honey bees (Apis mellifera). We tested, in the laboratory, the effect of the pesticide sulfoxaflor on individuals of solitary bee Osmia bicornis. The individuals exposed to the pesticide, in sub-lethal concentration, have shown reduced reproductive abilities that reduce the fertilization of the females. This research reveals the profound impacts that abiotic stress can cause on the health and behavior of pollinators.