Influence of the agricultural landscape surrounding Apis mellifera colonies on the presence of pesticides in honey

Abstract

Honeybees settled in agricultural ecosystems may encounter glyphosate residues on flowers of cultivated and native plants growing in semi-natural habitats. This work analyzes the relationship between the presence of pesticides in honey and some features of the landscape that surrounds the apiaries. A total of 30 honey samples were analyzed, and the presence of glyphosate and of its metabolite Aminophosphoric Acid (AMPA) was registered with a positivity of 50% and 30%, respectively. The presence of both glyphosate and AMPA in honey, even at very low levels, identifies an important pathway whereby pesticides migrate from the site of application to the hive and into the honey. Our results suggest that the increasing amount of croplands along with the intensification of industrial agriculture is not sufficient to explain the relationship with glyphosate and AMPA residues in honey. These trends suggest that more detailed studies within particular regions of the landscape could be useful to better understand the relationship of agricultural practices and the presence of pesticides in honey.