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2 March 2023

Are Botanical Biopesticides Safe for Bees (Hymenoptera, Apoidea)?

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1
Dipartimento di Agricoltura, Alimentazione e Ambiente, Università degli Studi di Catania, 95123 Catania, Italy
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Departamento de Biologia Animal, Universidade Federal de Viçosa, Viçosa 36570-900, Brazil
3
Laboratório de Controle Biológico, Universidade Tecnológica Federal do Paraná—Dois Vizinhos (UTFPR-DV), Paraná 85660-000, Brazil
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Dipartimento di Scienze e Tecnologie Agro-Alimentari, Alma Mater Studiorum Università di Bologna, 40127 Bologna, Italy
Insects2023, 14(3), 247;https://doi.org/10.3390/insects14030247
This article belongs to the Topic Insects in Sustainable Agroecosystems
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Simple Summary

Synthetic pesticides are among the main threatening factors for wild and managed bees. In recent decades, botanical biopesticides have been gained increasing interest and use in agriculture due to their high selectivity and short persistence in the environment. To date, however, little has been discovered or researched about the adverse effects of these substances on bees. This paper reviews studies in the literature reporting the lethal and sublethal effects of botanical biopesticides on social and solitary bees. Although botanical products are considered safer than chemical pesticides, some of them can cause lethal and several sublethal effects on bees. We suggest that more research is needed on this topic, especially increasing knowledge about certain groups of bees such as solitary bees.

Abstract

The recent global decline in insect populations is of particular concern for pollinators. Wild and managed bees (Hymenoptera, Apoidea) are of primary environmental and economic importance because of their role in pollinating cultivated and wild plants, and synthetic pesticides are among the major factors contributing to their decline. Botanical biopesticides may be a viable alternative to synthetic pesticides in plant defence due to their high selectivity and short environmental persistence. In recent years, scientific progress has been made to improve the development and effectiveness of these products. However, knowledge regarding their adverse effects on the environment and non-target species is still scarce, especially when compared to that of synthetic products. Here, we summarize the studies concerning the toxicity of botanical biopesticides on the different groups of social and solitary bees. We highlight the lethal and sublethal effects of these products on bees, the lack of a uniform protocol to assess the risks of biopesticides on pollinators, and the scarcity of studies on specific groups of bees, such as the large and diverse group of solitary bees. Results show that botanical biopesticides cause lethal effects and a large number of sublethal effects on bees. However, the toxicity is limited when comparing the effects of these compounds with those of synthetic compounds.

1. Introduction

Bees (Hymenoptera, Apoidea) are the main group of pollinating insects, represented by about 20,000 described species in the world, with the greatest biodiversity in Mediterranean and xeric climate regions of the globe [1,2]. Due to its biological and ethological characteristics, this group provides the ecological service of pollination for spontaneous and cultivated plants. In particular, the pollination service by animals includes 87% of the world’s spontaneous flowering plants [3], and about 75% of cultivated crops [4,5]. It has been estimated that crop pollination by insects has a value ranging from USD 195 billion to ~USD 387 billion annually worldwide [6]. Despite the difficulties in estimating the economic benefits of insect pollination for wild plants, it is assumed that this service is extremely important for the maintenance of the majority of terrestrial ecosystems.
In addition to being represented by large species richness, bees also include a wide range of life history, biological, and ethological traits [7]. The majority of bees are solitary, with females that build and provision the nest and raise their offspring by themselves without cooperation with other individuals [7]. The remaining insects are represented by parasitic bees, such as cleptoparasitic and social parasite bees, and social bees. Although they represent only a small fraction of the total species, social bees (and in particular the western honeybee, Apis mellifera L.) have always received the greatest attention from the public, scientists, and bee regulation and conservation programs [8]. Despite the role of major pollinators historically being mainly attributed to the western honeybee, subsequent studies showed that a greater biodiversity of wild bees increases and improves the pollination service [9].
The decline of insects, and bees in particular, has been documented by various studies in recent decades [10,11,12,13,14,15,16,17,18,19,20]. The reduction in abundance and richness of bees has been documented in different parts of the world at local, regional, and country levels [21,22]. The expansion and intensification of agriculture and livestock farming, exposure to pollutants, anthropization and habitat fragmentation, fires, and climate change are the factors that most threaten the diversity and populations of bees [23,24,25].
Despite these several factors related to the worldwide decline in pollinators, the impact of synthetic pesticides on non-target beneficial arthropods, and in particular pollinating insects, has represented a primary concern for at least the last decade [26,27]. From the 1990s up until now, a large number of scientific works has highlighted the toxicity and side effects of neonicotinoids for bees [28,29,30], and which have resulted in restrictions in the use of these products in Europe [31,32]. However, other families of chemical compounds (such as carbamates, organophosphates, and pyrethroids) are well known to be dangerous for these insects [27,33,34]. Conversely, there is less information on the toxicity of insecticides of biological origin for bees [35,36,37,38,39].
Biopesticides include a wide variety of compounds of natural origin, ranging from botanical compounds such as plant secondary metabolites and essential oils (EOs), to entomopathogenic viruses, bacteria, fungi, and nematodes [40,41]. Toxins and venoms produced by arthropods such as spiders and scorpions [42], or by other invertebrates [43], are also considered to be biopesticides. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) categorizes biopesticides in three different groups: (I) biochemical biopesticides, (II) plant-incorporated protectants (PIPs), and (III) biocontrol organisms [44]. Although there is no formal definition of biopesticides at the European level, two different groups are recognized, namely, (I) living organisms and (II) natural products, excluding PIPs, which are not included by the regulatory authorities of most of the other countries. Here, we divide biopesticides into four different groups according to their origin: (I) botanicals (alkaloids, essential oils, limonoids, etc.), (II) microbials (virus, bacteria, fungi), (III) animals (nematodes, toxins, and venoms from invertebrates), and (IV) genetic (toxins from GM plants, and RNAi based products). Biondi et al. [35] summarized the non-target effects of spinosyns on beneficial arthropods, including pollinators, while Erler et al. [38] reported from the literature the impacts of entomopathogenic organisms on social and solitary bees. The review by Cappa et al. [37] summarized the detrimental effects of biopesticides on insect pollinators (including social and solitary bees, Lepidoptera, Diptera Syrphidae, anthophilous Coleoptera, and wasps), including the effects of different classes of microbial biopesticides, and the effects of azadirachtin among the botanical biopesticides. Furthermore, Ntalli et al. [39] summarized the effects on honeybees of botanical treatments used in beekeeping to control the Apis mellifera arthropod pests. Giunti et al. [45] summarized the effects of essential oil-based biopesticides on non-target organisms, reporting some information on pollinator insects.
In the present review, we analysed the impacts on bees of botanicals biopesticides used or potentially used in agriculture, summarizing the studies in the literature and reporting the lethal and sublethal effects of these products on the different groups of Apoidea Anthophila, such as social (honeybees, bumblebees, stingless bees) and solitary bees. We also reported a critical analysis on the detrimental effects of these eco-friendly products on bees, divided into different categories according to Acheuk et al. [46].

2. Botanical Biopesticides

Botanical pesticides have been applied for more than 150 years in Europe and North America, going back much earlier than the discovery and the wide spread use of the main classes of synthetic pesticides in the first half of the twentieth century [47]. The extensive use of synthetic pesticides, with their consequent negative effects on human and environmental health, has led to a recent and increasing demand for botanical and organic pesticides as eco-friendly alternatives to synthetic pesticides [46]. Botanical pesticides, and in general biopesticides, have a higher selectivity, cause less pest resistance, and have low environmental persistence in comparison with the synthetic compounds [46,48]. For these reasons, these products can be good candidates for modern and sustainable agriculture. Despite the growing interest of the scientific community in botanical pesticides during recent years [37], their commercial use is still restricted compared to the synthetic alternatives, particularly in developing countries [49].
The great biosynthetic ability of plants enables a wide diversity and versatility of botanical compounds, which can be divided into seven different classes: (1) alkaloids, (2) essential oils, (3) fatty acids, (4) limonoids, (5) phenolics, (6) polyketides, and (7) pyrethrins [46].
Alkaloids represent a wide and highly diverse group of chemical compounds found in several botanical species: the most important examples are anabasine from Anabasis aphylla L. (Amaranthaceae), nicotine from Nicotiana (Solanaceae) species, or zygacine from Melanthiaceae species. These compounds show high insecticidal activities at low doses, and sublethal effects such as antifeeding, deterrence, and malformations [50]. Nicotine is a non-systemic insecticide that can be used for the control of a large number of pests in a confined environment [40]. Used as a fumigant, nicotine has neurotoxic action on insects, but it also shows high toxicity for birds, aquatic organisms, bees, and humans [51]. A mixture of alkaloids can be found in sabadilla, a traditional insecticidal preparation used in Central and South America and commercially used since the 1970s [40]. Sabadilla powder is prepared from Schoenocaulon officinale Gray (Melanthiaceae) and contains a mixture of veratridine, cevadine, and other alkaloids, and it is effective against thrips [40]. Ryania extracts from the stem of Ryania speciosa Vahl (Salicaceae) contain the alkaloid ryanodine, a highly toxic bioinsecticide that has been used in the USA for the control of Cydia pomonella L. (Tortricidae) and Ostrinia nubilalis Hübner (Crambidae) [40].
Essential oils (EOs) are contained in about 17,500 aromatic plant species and can be extracted mainly by steam distillation for various industrial applications, including plant protection from pests [52]. These products have been used since ancient times and can be obtained from plants belonging to the families Asteraceae (e.g., Artemisia spp.), Lamiaceae (e.g., Mentha spp., Origanum spp., Rosmarinus officinalis L., Salvia spp., Thymus spp.), Lauraceae (e.g., Laurus nobilis L.), and Myrtaceae (e.g., Eucalyptus spp., Myrtus communis L.) [52,53]. EOs are produced as secondary metabolites by these plants for protection against microorganisms, insects, herbivores, and allelopathic interactions [53,54]. The major constituents of EOs are low-molecular-weight terpenoids (monoterpenes and sesquiterpenes) and phenolics [52]. EOs have been recently tested on pests with successful results, but their high volatility, poor solubility in water, and easy environmental degradation make their commercialization difficult. For these reasons, some techniques have been studied to improve their efficacy, such as encapsulation in nanoparticles (NPs) (e.g., polyethylene glycol, PEG) [55], microencapsulation in SiO2 [56], and the use of plant powders containing EOs [57].
Fatty acids have also been used in some commercial biopesticides where they have a stabilizing function. However, some of them can have a secondary toxic effect on insect pests, for example, conjugated linoleic acid (CLA) or pelargonic acid [46]. Furthermore, preliminary studies on the fatty amid pellitorine have shown promising results for the control of mosquitoes [58] and Coleoptera post-harvest pests [59].
Limonoids are natural compounds mainly present in plants of the Rutaceae (Citrus spp.) and Meliaceae (Neem tree, Azadirachta indica A. Juss.) families. Azadirachtin from the Neem tree is one of the most widely used and studied biopesticides [49], isolated from all the parts of the plants, in particular from seeds [40]. Considered as a safe and selective product, Azadirachtin is very effective against several groups of pests, causing acute toxicity and anti-feeding and physiological effects [60], and it can also be used as a fungicide [40]. However, several studies question its safety as regards beneficial insects [61,62,63].
Phenolics, the largest group of plant secondary metabolites, perform various essential functions, from the regulation of physiological processes to defence against herbivores [64]. Abundantly present in Thymus spp. (Lamiaceae) plants, thymol can be used as an effective fungicide, bactericide, and also acaricide, it being effective against Varroa spp. (Varroidae), an important ectoparasite of honeybees [65]. The isoflavone rotenone, extracted from the roots of some species of Derris, Lonchocarpus, and Tephrosia (Fabaceae), is a neurotoxic compound used against a wide spectrum of insects and in the control of fish populations [40]. The safety of rotenone for humans and the environment has been questioned due to its high toxicity towards mammals [47].
Another large class of plant secondary metabolites is that of polyketides, biosynthesized from acetyl-CoA. Annonins, classified as acetogenins, comprise an important group of polyketides that show a wide range of biological activities such as antimicrobial and pesticidal activities [66]. Effective against Coleoptera pests [67], annonins are extracted from the seeds of neotropical Annona (Annonaceae) trees [47].
Pyrethrin is one of the most marketed bioinsecticides. It is a mixture of compounds (Pyrethrins I, and Pyrethrins II) biosynthesized from Tanacetum cinerariifolium (Trevir.) Sch. Bip. (Asteraceae) [68]. Pyrethrin has neurotoxic action that interferes with the Na+/K+ exchange pump, causing paralysis and resulting in toxicity for several groups of pests [46]. The characteristic of pyrethrins, of being particularly labile to UV from sunlight, led in the 1970s and 1980s to the development of synthetic derivatives, the pyrethroids, which are widely used nowadays [49].

3. Risk Assessment of Biopesticides on Bees

Most of the regulatory risk assessment for plant protection products (PPPs) (pesticides and biopesticides) uses the western honeybee as a surrogate species for ecotoxicological testing of pollinators [69,70]. In recent years it has been realized that this approach is not enough for pollinator conservation [70,71]. Sensitivity to pesticides varies according to the bee species and other factors such as body size, level of sociality, seasonality, voltinism, floral specialization, nesting behaviour, food consumption rate, overwintering strategies, sex, and caste [27,33,72,73]. This leads to different ecological impacts from the use of pesticides. Therefore, risk assessments have recently been expanded to include other bee species such as bumblebees (Bombus spp.) [26,44,74,75], solitary bees (Osmia spp. and Megachile rotundata (Fabricius)) [8,26,44,76,77], and stingless bees [78]. Currently ground-nesting bees, which represent about 70% of bee species [1], have not been taken into consideration in the PPP risk assessment protocols due to their difficulty in breeding, management, and use in laboratory protocols [8]. Still, today, however, knowledge regarding the ecotoxicology of the non-Apis bee species is scarce and certainly needs to be increased [33,79,80].
To date, there are no specific regulations and protocols for testing the effects of biopesticides on bees. Therefore, the same protocols for the chemical pesticides developed by the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) are used [37]. These protocols [74,81] include laboratory chronic and acute oral/contact toxicity tests to measure ecotoxicological parameters, such as LC50 and LD50, and to evaluate sublethal effects such as paralysis, movement alterations, and the presence of moribund specimens. However, sublethal effects caused by pesticides on bees are commonplace and still little studied, particularly regarding ecotoxicological tests about the effects of biopesticides on non-Apis bees [82,83,84].
In addition, there are few guidelines for the risk assessment of pesticides at field and semi-field levels with honeybees, bumblebees, and solitary bees [26,85], and no specific protocols for biopesticides. In general, the number of higher tier risk assessment studies on bees is low, both for synthetic pesticides (excluding neonicotinoids) and biopesticides.
We therefore highlight the need to (I) develop specific protocols to assess the lethal and sublethal effects of biopesticides on bees from different species; (II) increase the knowledge about species sensitivity distribution regarding chemical and biological pesticides for Apoidea, including ground-nesting solitary bees in the studies; and (III) develop new and better field and semi-field protocols both for synthetic and biopesticides.

4. Materials and Methods

The search for peer-reviewed English-language publications up to 2022 was conducted using Google Scholar, Scopus, and ResearchGate through the following keyword terms and their combination: “bioinsecticides”, “biopesticides”, “botanical insecticides”, “Azadirachtin”, “Essential oils”, “EOs”, “botanical extracts”, “Pyrethrins”, Pyrethrum”, “Nicotine”, AND “toxicity”, “exposure”, “effect”, AND “bee”, “social bee”, “honeybee”, “Apis”, “bumblebee”, “Bombus”, “stingless bee”, “Meliponini”, “solitary bee”, “Osmia”, “Megachile”. Additional studies from literature references were considered. In this review, papers about the toxicity on A. mellifera of botanical products used in beekeeping were not considered, as they are summarized in the recent revision of Ntalli et al. [39]. Table 1 includes and summarizes the studies and divides them following the different groups of Apoidea (social and solitary bees). Information is provided about the botanical substances tested, the category of assay (laboratory-assessed lethal (L) and/or sublethal (S) effects, field and semi-field), the type of treatment application (contact, topical, ingestion, fumigation, spray, crop spraying, crop granules, and "ingestion and topical" in the cases of tests with larvae), the target of the experiments (eggs, larvae, adults, colony, microcolony), the main effects reported by the results of the experiments, and the country in which the experiments were performed. The “Botanical substance” column in Table 1 includes the individual biopesticides tested in the different papers analysed. No papers were found in which synergistic effects between different substances were tested. Table 1 includes only article papers; however, some studies presented at conferences or symposia are discussed in the text. Most of the studies reviewed (53.7%) did not test a chemical insecticide as a positive control, and these studies are highlighted in Table 1 with a double asterisk (**). The toxicological parameters (LC50, LD50) of botanical biopesticides extrapolated from the analysed papers are reported in Table 2.

5. Effects of Botanical Biopesticides on Eusocial Bees

5.1. Honeybees

Honeybees are eusocial bees and are among the best known and most widely studied insects. Of the ten Apis species [86], two are managed in the world [87]. The first is the eastern honeybee, A. cerana Fabricius, managed in South and East Asia [88], and the second is the western honeybee, A. mellifera, managed in Africa and Europe for several millennia [89]. Nowadays, A. mellifera is a cosmopolitan species and is considered the most important pollinator worldwide, it being also the most important species for honey, pollen, propolis, and wax production [90]. Colony collapse disorder syndrome (CCD), observed for the first time in the US in the spring of 2007, has sparked growing interest from the public and the scientific community regarding the conservation of honeybees, and consequently other bees [7].
In the literature on the effects of botanical insecticides, both species of Apis previously mentioned have been studied, although A. mellifera is present in a greater number of studies. A single study [91] includes also the giant honeybee, A. dorsata Fabricius, a wild honeybee found from India to Vietnam.
Some studies showed that alkaloids can be toxic to A. mellifera. Nicotine increases the mortality, specifically of honeybees, causing a mortality from 75 to 100%, and shows a LC50 value of 60.15 ng/bee in contact exposure and 32.45 ng/bee in ingestion [92,93]. Sabadilla dust at its highest dosage shows 100% mortality within 48 h [94,95], and ryania dust extract at 40% caused 31% mortality 72 h after treatments [94].
Several studies have evaluated the impact of essential oils, with potential use in beekeeping for controlling Varroa spp. mites or other parasites, on A. mellifera, and the majority of these compounds showed low toxic effects for honeybees (reviewed by Ntalli et al. [39]). Many EOs and botanical extracts for use in crop protection also showed a lack of or low toxicity for honeybees at realistic field dosages [93,96,97,98,99]. However, several oils and extracts, widely used as biopesticides, caused lethal and sublethal effects on the larvae and adults of honeybees. Andiroba oil (Carapa guianensis Aublet, Meliaceae) and garlic extract (Allium sativum L., Amaryllidaceae) caused high larval mortality and affected the development and body mass, while citronella (Cymbopogon sp., Poaceae) and eucalyptus oil (Eucalyptus sp., Myrtaceae) showed high mortality for adult honeybees [100]. In addition, eucalyptus and garlic oil decreased honeybee speed and movement in walking tests, and all botanical treatments showed repellent effects on worker honeybees [100]. Artemisia absinthium L. and Eupatorium buniifolium Hook. ex Hook. & Arn. (Asteraceae) EOs, potentially usable against tomato pests, were tested also on A. mellifera [98] in topical tests and in the “Complete Exposure Test” described in Ruffinengo et al. [101]. Results showed a high LD50 in topical tests (respectively 197 and 252 μg/bee) but a low LD50 in the Complete Exposure Test (respectively 0.26 and 0.15 mg/cm2). This suggests that the use of these products may be minimally toxic for bees at the doses that can be used for the control of Trialeurodes vaporariorum (Westwood) (Aleyrodidae) (LD50: 0.08 and 0.02 mg/cm2, respectively) but toxic at the doses usable against Tuta absoluta (Meyrick) (Gelechidae) (LD50: 0.50 and 0.65 mg/cm2, respectively) [98]. EOs of Origanum vulgare L. and Thymus vulgaris L. (Lamiaceae) showed higher mortality in topical and contact tests with adult honeybees, and O. vulgare EO also reduced honeybees’ mobility during the walking bioassays [102]. Spray and ingestion treatments with extracts of Origanum majorana L. (Lamiaceae), Punica granatum L. (Lythraceae), Echinodorus grandiflorus (Cham. & Schltdl.) Micheli (Alismataceae), and Matricaria chamomilla L. (Asteraceae) reduced the survival of the honeybees, with a lower toxicity of E. grandiflorus and M. chamomilla [103]. The ingestion of Origanum majorana and P. granatum also reduced the mesenteric cells of the midgut of workers [103]. In addition, repellent effects on A. mellifera were observed using garlic and citronella extracts [104].
Currently, no field or semi-field studies have been conducted with EOs or their extracts to assess their effects on honeybees.
A single study evaluated the effects of fatty acid-based bioinsecticides on A. mellifera [105]. The amide pellitorine increased the mortality of larvae, newly emerged adults, and adults workers [105].
There is a considerable number of laboratory and field studies regarding the impact of Azadirachtin on honeybees (A. cerana, A. dorsata, and A. mellifera). Some of those papers reported only slight toxicity [97,106,107] or the absence of effects in field applications [108]. The first studies were conducted in the 1980s and reported high mortality and reduction in the survival of A. mellifera larvae, with morphological larval abnormalities, but no larval anti-feeding effects [109,110]. Young honeybees had malformations and were unable to hatch after the treatment of small hives with Neem seed extract spray [111]. However, these symptoms have not been observed in larger colonies, and field treatments carried out did not repel honeybees from flowers [111]. The absence of field repellence of honeybees was also observed after the treatment with a Neem seed extract of canola fields (Brassica campestris (L.), Brassicaceae) in Canada, despite the occurrence of repellent effects in laboratory choice tests [112]. The application of Neem oil on the cells of honeybee larvae caused high mortality at higher doses, with a higher LD50 than those of the other insects [113]. High mortality [100,114,115], reduction in adults’ survival [116,117,118], and larval survival and development [100,118,119] were found in laboratory tests with azadirachtin. The ingestion of azadirachtin altered the haemolymph amino acid composition [114]. Azadirachtin also impaired the flight ability [117] and walking activity [100] of honeybees. Furthermore, sublethal concentrations of azadirachtin decreased immune gene expression, and inhibited the activity of polyphenol oxidase (PPO), a midgut antioxidant enzyme of A. cerana cerana workers [115]. Field and semi-field studies highlighted the detrimental effects on honeybees after azadirachtin treatments. Although azadirachtin did not affect honeybee mortality, there was a reduction in the foraging activity and brood development of honeybees placed in tunnels with Brassica napus L. (Brassicaceae) in semi-field experiments [120]. Thompson et al. [121] observed a reduction in colony overwintering in azadirachtin-treated colonies but no apparent effects regarding the brood and queen development. Different formulations of azadirachtin affected the number of foraging honeybees of A. cerana indica, A. dorsata, and A. mellifera in mustard crops in India [91], as well as the number of A. mellifera forager bees in Brazilian melon fields [122].
Thymol and other phenolics such as carvacrol can be used in organic beekeeping, especially in the control of Varroa destructor [123]. These compounds have been tested on honeybees and their parasites by several authors, and the effects are summarized in Ntalli et al. [39]. These authors, considering them toxic to honeybees, reported however that their hazard ratios were lower than those of common synthetic alternatives. Studies on the impact of rotenone on A. mellifera have been conducted since the first half of the last century [94,124,125,126]. Rotenone was evaluated as slightly harmful to A. mellifera, after the reduction in honeybee survival in topical contact tests [97]. Repellence, high mortality of adult honeybees, reduction in body mass, and modifications in walking activity of foraging honeybees were also detected after rotenone exposure [100].
As regards polyketides, we found a single study evaluating the effects of a squamocin (annonin)-based product on A. cerana in the laboratory and field [106]. In laboratory experiments, the product was considered to be slightly to moderately toxic and selective to honeybees according to the selectivity ratio (LC50 of beneficial species (%)/LC50 of pest species (%)) (LC50 reported in Table 2). However, the field tests showed a significant reduction in the relative abundance and in the speed of foraging honeybees in Indian mustard crop (Brassica juncea L. Czern., Brassicaceae) [106].
As they were among the first botanical insecticides to be commercialized, pyrethrins have been tested on honeybees since the last century. Some studies reported no effects or low reductions in mortality [94,127,128], while others found high levels of toxicity [124,125,126] (Table 2). This is likely due to the use of different formulations and different methods of product application (by contact, fumigation, spray, topical, and ingestion). Recently, it has been shown that a pyrethrum nanopesticide decreased the longevity and caused morphological alterations in the midgut of Africanized honeybees [129].

5.2. Bumblebees

Bombus Latreille includes about 250 species with annual colonies, [1], which are abundant in the Holarctic region. Several bumblebees species in Europe and North America are threatened, and their populations are in decline [12,23,130,131,132]. There are nine species of social bumblebees managed for crop pollination [87], some of them widely used in laboratory risk assessment of synthetic pesticides. Bombus terrestris (L.) is the model species for ecotoxicological studies on bumblebees [26] and the only bumblebee species used in studies that have evaluated the risks of botanical insecticides (Table 1). The buff-tailed bumblebee, B. terrestris, is one of the most abundant bees in the West Palaearctic [133], and it is a widely commercialized species used for pollination of several crops [134].
There is a small number of studies on botanical insecticides regarding B. terrestris, almost all on the effects of azadirachtin.
Azadirachtin caused repellence on workers and caused high mortality in treated microcolonies of B. terrestris. Different azadirachtin concentrations also caused sublethal effects on the colonies, reducing the egg-laying, production of drones, the ovarian length, and the body mass of male offspring [61]. However, various formulations and technical powders of azadirachtin used at field-recommended doses in the laboratory did not elicit side effects on the treated colonies [135]. Colonies orally exposed to azadirachtin had a slight increase in worker and drone mortality, although the treatment was toxic for queens [136]. Other formulations of azadirachtin (nimbecidine) were highly toxic to B. terrestris in an acute oral experiment [137].
Sublethal concentrations of azadirachtin also reduced the foraging of pollen by B. terrestris in a legume field [138].
A blend of Perilla frutescens var. crispa extracts and phytoncide oil was found to be particularly toxic for B. terrestris, causing a 100% mortality after one hour in a contact experiment [139]. Sublethal doses of these botanical insecticides did not affect the walking distance and velocity of the bumblebees, but the angular velocity was significantly affected. Furthermore, the bioinsecticide reduced the levels of different genes involved in metabolism (NADH dehydrogenase 1 alpha subcomplex subunit 12, NDUFA12, cytochrome b-c1 complex subunit 9-like, UQCR10-like, ATP synthase subunit b, ATP5F1, and cytochrome b-c1 complex subunit 8, UQCRQ) at five and ten minutes after treatments [139].
To date, we are not aware of the LD50 or LC50 of botanicals biopesticides for any bumblebee species (Table 2).

5.3. Stingless Bees

Tribe Meliponini is a large group of bees found in the tropical and subtropical areas of the world with about 500 described species [1,140]. In Central and South America and Australia, stingless bees play important roles as pollinators and honey producers [141]. Pesticides are among the major threats for these pollinators [142,143,144,145,146], and only recently have different studies assessed the risks of pesticides and biopesticides on these pollinators [27,73,145]. Meliponini appear to be more sensitive to pesticides than A. mellifera and other pollinator species [33,147]. However, further studies are needed considering the large number of stingless bee species [27].
All studies on the impact of botanical insecticides on stingless bees were conducted in Brazil, involving a total of eight species (Table 1).
Most of the EOs tested on stingless bees resulted in low lethal effects [93,102,148,149], although other studies showed high mortality after EO treatment. However, topical contact tests with Corymbia citriodora EO (Myrtaceae) on Tetragonisca angustula Latreille resulted in 100% mortality of these pollinators [150]. EOs from Artemisia annua L. (Asteraceae) also increased the mortality of T. angustula [151]. The handling behaviour of Nannotrigona testaceicornis (Lepeletier) and T. angustula was evaluated through a videotrack system, after treatment with different EOs and extracts, which showed no effects in both species [152].
Topical applications of Annona squamosa L. (Annonaceae) and Ricinus communis L. (Euphorbiaceae) extracts reduced the survival of Trigona spinipes (Fabricius) [148].
The EOs of Origanum vulgare and Thymus vulgaris reduced the walking speed and the travelling distance of Trigona hyalinata (Lepeletier) [102].
Several studies assessed the lethal and sublethal effects of azadirachtin on stingless bees in the laboratory, while few studies have been carried out in field and semi-field conditions. Topical tests with leaf and seed extracts from Azadirachta indica reduced the survival of T. spinipes [148]. The ingestion of azadirachtin during larval development increased the mortality and led to the production of deformed pupae and adults of Melipona quadrifasciata Lepeletier, despite not delaying the development time [153]. However, in adult stingless bees, the lethal toxicity of azadirachtin seems to be lower; it caused low mortality in contact and ingestion assays with Partamona helleri (Friese) and Scaptotrigona xanthotrica Moure [154]. In this study, the flight take-off of P. helleri was affected by oral ingestion [154]. Azadirachtin did not cause mortality in M. quadrifasciata and P. helleri in contact and oral exposure experiments. However, this biopesticide, in a concentration-dependent manner, caused a significant anti-feeding effect on P. helleri and repellence in M. quadrifasciata [62]. Azadirachtin proved to be particularly toxic for P. helleri queens reared in vitro during post-embryonic development, reducing survival at the higher doses and delaying development [63]. The treatment also deformed the specimens and reduced the reproductive system area of the queens [63]. Modifications in the gene expression of esterase isoenzymes (EST) and peptides were observed in T. angustula after contact tests in the laboratory and semi-field with different formulations of azadirachtin [155].
The ingestion of azadiractin caused a reduction in the gene expression of vitellogenin (Vg) of M. quadrifasciata workers, infected and uninfected with Escherichia coli [156]. The same study highlighted an increase in the number of haemocytes in both infected and uninfected bees due to insecticide ingestion [156].
Flower visitation rates of Plebeia sp. bees were not affected by azadirachtin treatment in a Brazilian melon field [122].

6. Effects of Botanical Biopesticides on Solitary Bees

The great majority of bee species in the world is solitary and belongs to seven different families (Stenotritidae, Colletidae, Andrenidae, Halictidae, Melittidae, Megachilidae, and Apidae) [7]. They exhibit a great variety of size, morphological characteristics, behaviour, nesting habitats, flight ranges, phenology, and nutritional requirements [1,7]. Eight species of solitary bees, mainly cavity-nesting species belonging to the genera Megachile Latreille and Osmia Panzer (Megachilidae), are managed for the pollination of crops around the world, and another 14 are potentially usable species [87]. Among these, there are a few ground nesting bee species such as the alkali bee, Nomia melanderi (Cockerell) (Halictidae), which are managed in North America, or Rhophitoides canus (Eversmann) (Halictidae) in Eastern Europe. The status of solitary bees is not well known throughout the world. In Europe, which hosts the best-known bee fauna, the latest IUCN Red List [23] assessed 60% of the species in the “data deficient” category, and the majority of the threatened species (45 spp.) are solitary. There is a clear need to improve our knowledge of the status of solitary bees in the world and to assess the risk to them of synthetic chemicals and alternative biopesticides.
The European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) suggested including the red mason bee, Osmia bicornis L., and the European orchard bee, Osmia cornuta (Latreille), as model organisms of solitary bees in the EU pesticide risk assessment scheme [26]. However, standardised test protocols to assess acute toxicity for solitary bees are still in development. The US EPA [44] has suggested the blue orchard bee, Osmia lignaria Say, and the alfalfa leafcutting bee, Megachile rotundata (Fabricius). The latter, to date widely managed for crop pollination in North America, is a Eurasian bee accidentally introduced into the US in the 1940s.
Knowledge regarding lethal and sublethal effects of botanical compounds on solitary bees is very scarce, and the few studies carried out show non-uniform laboratory protocols, with the use of different methods of application, and different life stages (eggs, larvae, newly emerged, adults of females and males). A product based on an extract of a small tropical tree, Quassia amara L. (Simaroubaceae) (Tecomag®), was found to be particularly toxic at field doses for Osmia cornuta eggs and larvae, with a mortality of more than 80% in a preliminary study conducted through the application of a drop of test solution in the provision of the eggs/larvae [157].
Studies conducted in North America, with adults of Osmia lignaria, showed low reduction in mortality with topical and ingestion treatment of Neem oil [116]. Slightly increased mortality was also registered in adults of Osmia cornifrons Radoszkowski with a treatment of wintergreen oil (Gaultheria procumbens L., Ericaceae) as a fumigant used for the control of Chaetodactylus krombeini Baker (Chaetodactylidae) [158]. Another study, conducted in Canada [57], tested botanical insecticides that could potentially be used to control a natural enemy of solitary bees, such as Pteromalus venustus Walker (Pteromalidae), a parasitoid of the alfalfa leafcutting bees, Megachile rotundata. This work tested fifteen plant powders against parasitoid and adult male bees in a contact experiment, highlighting a higher bee mortality with nutmeg powders [57].
The only field study [122] was conducted in Brazilian melon (Cucumis melo L.) fields, investigating the visitation rates of Halictus spp. (Halictidae) after treatments with azadirachtin. Halictus Latreille is a wide genus of bees that includes a scale of different social behaviours from solitary and semi-social to social species. Since the species was not specified in Tschoeke et al. [122], we reported this in the solitary bees category. Halictus bees showed reduced visitation intensity after treatment with a neem-based insecticide.
As with bumblebees, the LC50 or LD50 of botanical biopesticides for solitary bee species were not calculated in the studies reviewed in the literature (Table 2).
Table 1. Laboratory, semi-field, and field studies testing the lethal (L) and sublethal (S) effects on social and solitary bees (Hymenoptera, Apoidea) of botanical biopesticides.
Table 1. Laboratory, semi-field, and field studies testing the lethal (L) and sublethal (S) effects on social and solitary bees (Hymenoptera, Apoidea) of botanical biopesticides.
Bee SpeciesBotanical SubstanceAssayApplicationTarget *EffectsCountryYearReferences
Social species
Honeybees
(Apis spp.)
Apis cerana ceranaAzadirachtinlaboratory (L, S)ingestionadultsincrease in mortality at the higher doses, anti-feeding and inhibition on the immune responseChina2022[115] **
Apis cerana indicaAnnonin, azadirachtinlaboratory (L) and fieldtopical, crop sprayingadults increase in mortality with both compounds, reduction of the number and speed of foraging bees with annoninIndia2019[106]
Apis cerana indicaAzadirachtinfieldcrop sprayingadultsreduction of the number of foraging bees India2010[91]
Apis dorsataAzadirachtinfieldcrop sprayingadultsreduction of the number of foraging beesIndia2010[91]
Apis melliferaAzadirachtinlaboratory (L)ingestion and topicallarvae, adultsincrease in mortality, larvae more susceptible than adultsBrazil2016[118] **
Apis melliferaSabadilla dustlaboratory (L)contactadultsincrease in mortalityUSA1958[95]
Apis melliferaAramite (blend of natural oils)laboratory (L)contactadultslow increase in mortality USA1952[96]
Apis melliferaFormulations containing pyrethrins, rotenone, and pine oil, three formulations containing pyrethrinslaboratory (L, S)sprayadultsincrease in mortality and knockdown effects for all formulationsUSA1990[126]
Apis melliferaAramite, pyrethrins, rotenone, ryania, and sabadilla dustlaboratory (L)contactadultsincrease in mortality with sabadilla, medium and low increase in mortality with the other compoundsUSA1954[94]
Apis melliferaPyrethrumfieldspray on cage and colony adults, colonylow increase in mortalityUSA1979[128]
Apis melliferaMentha piperita, Origanum vulgare, Thymus vulgaris, and Zingiber officinale EOslaboratory (L, S)topical, contact, ingestion adults increase in mortality with O. vulgare, and T. vulgaris, reduction of movements with O. vulgareBrazil2020[102] **
Apis melliferaNeem oil, pyroligneous extract, and rotenonelaboratory (L)topical, ingestionadultsreduction in survival with rotenone on topical applicationBrazil2012[97]
Apis melliferaAzadirachtinfieldcrop sprayingadultsno reduction of the numbers of foraging bees USA2004[108]
Apis melliferaPyrethrum extractlaboratory (L)fumigationadultsno effects on mortalityUSA1930[127] **
Apis melliferaRotenone, and pyrethrum extractlaboratory (L)sprayadultsincrease in mortalityUSA1932[124] **
Apis melliferaAzadirachtinlaboratory (L, S)ingestionadultshigh mortality, effects on haemolymph amino acid compositionEgypt2015[114]
Apis melliferaNeem oillaboratory (L)ingestion and topicallarvaereduction in survival India2022[119] **
Apis melliferaNeem oillaboratory (L)topical, ingestionadults reduction in survival in contact applicationUSA2005[116]
Apis melliferaPellitorine extracted from Piper tuberculatumlaboratory (L) and fieldingestion and topicallarvae, adultshigh mortality at the highest ratesBrazil2003[105] **
Apis melliferaAzadirachtinlaboratory (L, S)contact, ingestionadultsincrease in mortality, no repellent effects, reduction in flight abilityBrazil2020[117]
Apis melliferaNeem seed extractlaboratory (S) and fieldingestion, crop sprayingadultsfood repellency in laboratory bioassays, however no effects on the number of the foraging bees in the fieldCanada1994[112] **
Apis melliferaNeem oilfieldingestion and topicallarvaeincrease in mortality at the higher concentrationCanada1996[113] **
Apis melliferacentury plant, citronella, garlic, parsley, rue, and tobacco extractslaboratory (S) and fieldingestionadultsrepellent effects in laboratory and in fieldBrazil2004[104] **
Apis melliferaPyrethrum extract, pyrethrum extract in nanoparticleslaboratory (L, S)ingestionadultsreduction in survival, morphological
alterations in the epithelium of midgut		Brazil2019[129]
Apis melliferaAzadirachtinfieldcrop sprayingadultsreduction of the number of foraging beesIndia2010[91]
Apis melliferaAgave americana, Anadenanthera colubrina, and Nicotiana tabacum extractslaboratory (L, S)contact, ingestion adultsincreased mortality with N. tabacum, low increase in mortality with the other compounds, no effects on respiration rates or flightBrazil2020[93]
Apis melliferaEchinodorus grandiflorus, Matricaria chamomilla, Origanum majorana, and Punica granatum extractslaboratory (L, S)contact, ingestion, sprayadultsincrease in mortality and reduction of the length of mesenteric cells with O. majorana and P. granatum Brazil2020[103] **
Apis melliferaNeem oillaboratory (L)contactadults increase in mortalityIndia2017[107]
Apis melliferaNeem seed extractslaboratory (L, S)ingestion and topicallarvaeeffects on survival of larvae, no anti-feeding effects, morphological alterationGermany1980[109] **
Apis melliferaAzadirachtinlaboratory (L, S)ingestion and topicallarvaeincrease in mortality, no anti-feeding effects, morphological alterationGermany1982[110] **
Apis melliferaGeraniol and Cymbopogon martinii EOlaboratory (L, S)topical, ingestionadults no effects on mortality, no effects on immune response, on behaviour, and locomotionBrazil2018[99]
Apis melliferaNeem seed extractsfieldcrop sprayingcolonyeffects on the hatching observed in the smaller hives, morphological alteration, non-repellent effects on treated flowersGermany1987[111] **
Apis melliferaAzadirachtinsemi-fieldcrop granules, crop spraying colonyno effects on mortality, reduction in foraging activity and brood development with spray treatmentCzech Republic2005[120] **
Apis melliferaPyrethrins and rotenonelaboratory (L)topical, ingestionadultsincreased mortality with both compoundsUK1978[125]
Apis melliferaAzadirachtinfieldingestioncolonycolony overwintering failure, no effects on brood and queen developmentUK2005[121]
Apis melliferaAzadirachtinfieldcrop sprayingadultseffects on flower visitation ratesBrazil2019[122]
Apis melliferaArtemisia absinthium, and Eupatorium buniifolium EOslaboratory (L)topical, contactadultsno effects on mortality in the topical test, increased mortality in the contact testUruguay2017[98] **
Apis melliferaAndiroba, citronella, eucalyptus, and neem oil, garlic extract, and rotenonelaboratory (L, S)contact, ingestion and topicallarvae, adultsincrease in mortality of bee larvae with andiroba, neem oil, and garlic extract, reduction of body mass of adults, reduction in walking activity and repellent effects in adult workersBrazil2015[100] **
Bumblebees
(Bombus spp.)
Bombus terrestrisAzadirachtinlaboratory (L, S)ingestionadults, microcolonyincrease in mortality, repellent effects, reduction in egg-laying, in production of drones, and in ovarian lengthBelgium2015[61]
Bombus terrestrisAzadirachtinlaboratory (L)ingestionadultsincrease in mortalityTurkey2022[137] **
Bombus terrestrismixture of Perilla frutescens var. crispa extracts and phytoncide oillaboratory (L, S)contactadultshigh mortality, no effects on walking behaviour, reduction in gene expressionRepublic of Korea2018[139] **
Bombus terrestrisAzadirachtinfieldingestionadultsreduction in pollen foragingEstonia2009[138] **
Stingless bees (Meliponini)
Melipona quadrifasciataAzadirachtinlaboratory (L, S)ingestion and topicallarvaeincrease in mortality at higher doses, development of deformed pupae and adultsBrazil2015[153] **
Melipona quadrifasciataAzadirachtinlaboratory (L, S)contact, ingestionadults no effects on mortality, no anti-feeding effects, modifications in walking behaviour, no effects on flight and respiration rate Brazil2017[62] **
Melipona quadrifasciataAzadirachtinlaboratory (S)ingestionadultsreduction of gene expression of vitellogenin (Vg), increase of the number of haemocytes Brazil2021[156] **
Nannotrigona aff. testaceicornisLippia sidoides EO, and main compoundslaboratory (L, S)topicaladults low increase in mortality, low reduction in locomotion ability and flight orientation, avoidance effectsBrazil2021[149]
Nannotrigona testaceicornisAndiroba, citronella, eucalyptus, and neem oil, garlic extract, and rotenonelaboratory (S)contactadultsno effects on handling behaviourBrazil2010[152] **
Partamona helleriAzadirachtinlaboratory (L, S)contact, ingestionadults no effects on mortality, anti-feeding effects, no effects on walking, flight and respiration rate Brazil2017[62] **
Partamona helleriAzadirachtinlaboratory (L, S)ingestion and topicallarvae of queensincrease of mortality at the higher doses, delayed development and production of deformed queens, no effects on walking behaviour, reduction in the ovarian morphometry Brazil2018[63]
Partamona helleriAgave americana, Anadenanthera colubrina, and Nicotiana tabacum extractslaboratory (L, S)contact, ingestion adultsincreased mortality with N. tabacum, low increase in mortality with the other compounds, no effects on respiration rates or flightBrazil2020[93]
Partamona helleriAzadirachtinlaboratory (L, S)contact, ingestionadultslow increase in mortality, no effects on overall group activity, reduction of flight take-off of workerBrazil2015[154]
Plebeia sp.Azadirachtinfieldcrop sprayingadultsno effects on flower visitation ratesBrazil2019[122]
Scaptotrigona xanthotricaAzadirachtinlaboratory (L, S)contact, ingestionadultslow increase in mortality, no effects on overall group activity, reduction of flight take-off of workerBrazil2015[154]
Tetragonisca angustulaAzadirachtinlaboratory (S), and semi-fieldcontact adults and colonyreduction in gene expression of esterase isoenzymes, changes in protein synthesisBrazil2020[155] **
Tetragonisca angustulaCorymbia citriodora EOlaboratory (L)topicaladultsincrease in mortalityBrazil2018[150] **
Tetragonisca angustulaArtemisia annua EOlaboratory (L)topicaladultsincrease in mortalityBrazil2018[151] **
Tetragonisca angustulaAndiroba, citronella, eucalyptus, and neem oil, garlic extract, and rotenonelaboratory (S)contactadultsno effects on handling behaviourBrazil2010[152] **
Trigona hyalinataMentha piperita, Origanum vulgare, Thymus vulgaris, and Zingiber officinale EOslaboratory (L, S)topical, contact, ingestion adults low increase in mortality, reduction in movements with oregano and thyme EOsBrazil2020[102] **
Trigona spinipesAzadiracha indica, Lippiasidoides, Sapindus saponaria, Anonna squamosa, Cymbopogon winterianum, Corimbia citriodora, Jatropha curcas, Ricinus communis leaf and seed extractslaboratory (L)topicaladultsincrease in mortality with A. indica, A. squamosa, and R. communisBrazil2012[148] **
Solitary species
Halictus sp. ***Azadirachtinfieldcrop sprayingadultsreduction of flower visitation ratesBrazil2019[122]
Megachile rotundataAjwain, basil, cinnamon, clove, coriander, cumin, fenugreek, fennel, ginger, nutmeg, oregano, rosemary, sage, thyme, and turmeric powders (containing EOs)laboratory (L)contactadult malesincrease in mortalityCanada2020[57] **
Osmia cornifronsWintergreen oillaboratory (L)topical, contactadults increase in mortalityUSA2009[158] **
Osmia cornutaQuassia amara extractlaboratory (L)contacteggs, larvaeincrease in mortalityItaly2003[157]
Osmia lignariaNeem oillaboratory (L)topical, ingestionadultsincrease in mortalityUSA2005[116]
*: Most of the studies reviewed target adult worker bees belonging to different ages (newly emerged, foragers). The table specifies whether the target belongs to other castes (queen, male). **: Studies in which there is no positive control with chemical insecticides. ***: Halictus Latreille is a wide genus of bees that includes a scale of different social behaviours from solitary and semi-social to social species. Since the species was not specified in Tshoecke et al. (2019), we reported this in the solitary bees category.
Table 2. Toxicological parameters (LC50, LD50) of botanical biopesticides extrapolated from the analysed papers. The values are reported as they were reported in the papers.
Table 2. Toxicological parameters (LC50, LD50) of botanical biopesticides extrapolated from the analysed papers. The values are reported as they were reported in the papers.
GroupBee SpeciesBotanical SubstanceTargetApplicationToxicological ParametersReferences
HONEYBEESApis cerana indicaAnnoninadultstopicalLC50(%)(72 h): 1.22 [106]
AzadirachtinadultstopicalLC50(%)(72 h): 1.64
Apis melliferaMentha piperita EOadultscontactLC50(%)(24 h): 13.35 [102]
adultstopicalLD50(%)(24 h): 12.58
Origanum vulgare EOadultscontactLC50(%)(24 h): 0.95
adultstopicalLD50(%)(24 h): 2.03
Thymus vulgaris EOadultscontactLC50(%)(24 h): 2.61
adultstopicalLD50(%)(24 h): 3.30
Zingiber officinale EOadultscontactLC50(%)(24 h): 22.01
adultstopicalLD50(%)(24 h): 17.98
Pellitorine extracted from Piper tuberculatumlarvaeingestion and topicalLD50 (μg a.i./bee)(96 h): 0.8048[105]
adultsingestion LD50 (μg a.i./bee)(96 h): 0.759
topicalLD50 (μg a.i./bee)(96 h): 0.357
Neem oilI instar larvaeingestion and topicalLD50 (μg a.i./g)(6 d): 37[113]
IV instar larvaeingestion and topicalLD50 (μg a.i./g)(10 d): 61
Nicotine extracted from Nicotiana tabacumadultscontactLC50 (ng/bee)(48 h): 60.15[93]
adultsingestionLC50 (ng/bee)(48 h): 32.45
β-Caryophyllene extracted from Agave americanaadultscontactLC50 (ng/bee)(48 h): 127.4
adultsingestionLC50 (ng/bee)(48 h): 111.2
Lupeol extracted from Anadenanthera colubrinaadultscontactLC50 (ng/bee)(48 h): 222.5
adultsingestionLC50 (ng/bee)(48 h): 210.1
Cymbopogon martinii EOadultsingestionLD50 (μg/bee)(24 h): 465[99]
adultstopicalLD50 (μg/bee)(24 h): 73
GeranioladultsingestionLD50 (μg/bee)(24 h): 290
adultstopicalLD50 (μg/bee)(24 h): 43
PyrethrinsadultsingestionLD50 (μg/bee): 0.29–0.13[125]
adultstopicalLD50 (μg/bee): 0.15
RotenoneadultsingestionLD50 (μg/bee): >60
adultstopicalLD50 (μg/bee): >30
Artemisia absinthium EOadultstopicalLD50 (μg/bee)(24 h): 252[98]
adultscomplete exposureLD50 (mg/cm2)(24 h): 0.15
Eupatorium buniifolium EOadultstopicalLD50 (μg/bee)(24 h): 197
adultscomplete exposureLD50 (mg/cm2)(24 h): 0.26
STINGLESS BEESNannotrigona aff. testaceicornisLippia sidoides EOadultstopicalLD50 (μg/bee)(24 h): 33.7[149]
Thymol (compound of Lippia sidoides EO)adultstopicalLD50 (μg/bee)(24 h): 33.6
ρ—cymene (compound of Lippia sidoides EO)adultstopicalLD50 (μg/bee)(24 h): 198
(E)—caryophyllene (compound of Lippia sidoides EO)adultstopicalLD50 (μg/bee)(24 h): 306
Partamona helleriNicotine extracted from Nicotiana tabacumadultscontactLC50 (ng/bee)(48 h): 44.32[93]
adultsingestionLC50 (ng/bee)(48 h): 38.76
β-Caryophyllene extracted from Agave americanaadultscontactLC50 (ng/bee)(48 h): 122.2
adultsingestionLC50 (ng/bee)(48 h): 117.1
Lupeol extracted from Anadenanthera colubrinaadultscontactLC50 (ng/bee)(48 h): 200.1
adultsingestionLC50 (ng/bee)(48 h): 212.2
Trigona hyalinataMentha piperita EOadultscontactLC50(%)(24 h): 21.61[102]
adultstopicalLD50(%)(24 h): 16.38
Origanum vulgare EOadultscontactLC50(%)(24 h): 7.14
adultstopicalLD50(%)(24 h): 4.57
Thymus vulgaris EOadultscontactLC50(%)(24 h): 8.29
adultstopicalLD50(%)(24 h): 6.53
Zingiber officinale EOadultscontactLC50(%)(24 h): 24.17
adultstopicalLD50(%)(24 h): 32.65

7. Conclusions

Increasing awareness of the risks associated with synthetic pesticides is leading to a revaluation and increased production of studies on botanically derived products. These studies are undergoing a renaissance, especially in some countries such as India, China, and Brazil, where the number of papers on this topic has grown, particularly in recent decades [159]. Although botanicals are presented as eco-friendly alternatives with high selectivity and low persistence in the environment, the knowledge regarding their posing of risks to non-target organisms is still scarce, and studies in the literature indicate several detrimental effects on pollinators. Brazil appears to be the country from which the largest number of papers analysed came (n = 23), followed by the United States (n = 10) and India (n = 4). For several countries, especially in Europe, the efforts made to date on this topic are rather limited (Figure 1A). Brazil has the greatest biodiversity in the world, so many botanical biopesticides are constantly being tested [160,161,162,163]. In Brazil, beekeeping activities stand out, in addition to a vast population of native stingless bees. In this sense, efforts have been made to carry out selectivity and toxicity tests of these products on these pollinators [62,63]. In general, the toxicity of botanical biopesticides is lower than that of synthetic products. However, this review highlights how the products from different classes of botanical biopesticides can cause lethal effects and a wide variety of sublethal effects (Table 3) on different groups of bees, ranging from social to solitary species, although studies found in the literature focus on just a few model species. Indeed, the great majority of the analysed papers focused on honeybees, especially A. mellifera, while very few works focused on a few other model species, such as bumblebees, and stingless bees (Figure 1B and Figure 2). Despite neotropical stingless bees only recently being the subject of risk assessment regarding pesticides and biopesticides, there is a growing number of studies on botanical substances. On the other hand, for other groups such as solitary bees, the number of studies, and the number of species and substances tested, are still scarce (Figure 2). In the literature we found toxicological parameters (LC50 and LD50) of the different botanical pesticides only for honeybees and stingless bees, with a gap for bumblebees and solitary bees (Table 2). The toxicity of botanical biopesticides for bees varies greatly among different classes of botanicals and different formulations, and in this regard, the majority of the papers analysed focused on limonoids (azadirachtin) and essential oils (Figure 1C and Figure 2). Essential oils in general have been shown to be less toxic than other botanical products, although there are several exceptions. Alkaloid products such as sabadilla or ryania extracts cause lethal effects on honeybees and have not been tested on other bee species. Azadirachtin has proven to be one of the most studied botanical insecticides concerning bees, reporting lethal effects for several bee species, and a massive presence of sublethal effects (Table 3), this despite the detrimental effects varying significantly depending on the formulations used. The toxicity of some products for bees deserves further investigation with a focus on the sublethal effects, and an increase in field and semi-field studies, which have currently been carried out in a small proportion (Figure 2). None of the trials with alkaloids, EOs, or phenolics from the analysed papers were conducted under field or semi-field conditions (Figure 2). No synergistic effects between botanicals and between botanicals and chemicals pesticides have been investigated in bees, although this is an area of recent interest and attention [164,165,166]. Furthermore, of the total number of the studies reviewed (n = 54), a great proportion (53.7%, n = 29) do not include a chemical insecticide as the positive control in the experimental procedure. Including tests with a chemical insecticide group (control) can increase the potential for analysing and considering the data and can also facilitate understanding of the results. For this reason, it is important to highlight the need for protocols. In general, due to non-uniformly used methodologies, the results often cannot be compared. In addition, we have almost no information on their residues and persistence in bee matrices and thus the potential exposure level for bees in the field. The combination of these factors makes it complex to assess and discuss the actual safety of some of these products for bees. Therefore, the need has emerged for the development of new standardized protocols for the risk assessment of plant protection products regarding the different groups of bees. This is particularly true for stingless bees and solitary bees, there being protocols for honeybees in the literature but very few protocols for bumblebees (Table 4). New protocols are also required to evaluate the great variety of sublethal effects that could affect bees. In general, botanical biopesticides seem safer for bees than synthetic pesticides. However, some products need further evaluations, with the adoption of standardized biopesticide protocols, in order to assess the risks for different bee species, from social to solitary.
Figure 1. (A) Number of analysed papers assessing the risk of botanical biopesticides for bees by country; (B) number of analysed papers regarding the different groups of bees (honeybees, bumblebees, stingless bees, and solitary bees); (C) number of analysed papers concerning the different classes of botanical biopesticides.
Table 3. Classes of sublethal effects caused by botanical biopesticides reported in the reviewed studies on different groups of Hymenoptera Apoidea. In parentheses the total number of studies and the number of studies showing a significant detrimental effect.
Figure 2. Sankey diagram showing the interaction flows between the groups of bees, different categories of botanical biopesticides, and the type of assay. The reported values refer to the number of trials (n = 344) found from the analysed papers (n = 54).
Table 4. Overview of the research gaps in the literature regarding the effects of botanical biopesticides and bees and future directions.

Author Contributions

Conceptualization, R.C., G.M. and M.A.P.L.; methodology, R.C.; validation, R.C., G.M., M.A.P.L. and L.Z. formal analysis, R.C., G.M. and M.A.P.L.; resources, R.C.; data curation, R.C.; writing—original draft preparation, R.C.; writing—review and editing, R.C., G.M., M.A.P.L., L.Z., F.S. and M.P.; supervision, M.A.P.L., L.Z. and G.M.; project administration, M.A.P.L., L.Z. and G.M.; funding acquisition, M.A.P.L., L.Z. and G.M. All authors have read and agreed to the published version of the manuscript.

Funding

This research was funded by the following: Capes Print program, research grant number 88887.571161/2020-00 to MAPL; PRIN 2020 project “Bio-inspired Plant Protection (BiPP)”, grant number 2020T58TA3; European Union Next-GenerationEU (PIANO NAZIONALE DI RIPRESA E RESILIENZA (PNRR)—MISSIONE 4 COMPONENTE 2, INVESTIMENTO 1.4—D.D. 1032 17/06/2022, CN00000022) within the Agritech National Research Centre.

Data Availability Statement

The data presented in this study are available upon request from the corresponding author.

Conflicts of Interest

The authors declare no conflict of interest. The funders had no role in the design of the study; in the collection, analyses, or interpretation of data; in the writing of the manuscript; or in the decision to publish the results.

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