Feeding Studies
Eurofins Agroscience Services have long term expertise in conducting honey bee brood studies according to EPPO
We are experienced in honey bee (Apis mellifera L.) field studies conducted in a relevant crop, where honeybees are exposed to the test item via the treated crop for the period of flowering. In addition we also have long term expertise in conducting honey bee brood studies according to EPPO (Oomen et al.(1992 a+b)), design but also large scale colony feeding studies. In booth type of studies, honeybees are exposed to the test item via in hive feeding of spiked sugar solution.
Honey Bee Brood Feeding Study –EPPO (Oomen et al. (1992 a+b)), EFSA Guideline
Brood feeding studies are performed in accordance with the OEPP/EPPO Bulletin (Oomen et al. 1992 a+b), considering the revision by Lückmann und Schmitzer (2019), and with partly integration of the OECD Guidance Document No. 75 (2007) in order to evaluate the possible risk of plant protection products to the honey bee brood. Commercial free flying bee colonies are fed directly with a contaminated sugar solution over 10 consecutive days.
Assessments on mortality, behaviour and the condition of the colonies will be performed. Special attention is drawn to the evaluation of the condition of the colonies and the bee brood development. For this purpose at least 200 cells containing eggs, young and old larvae are marked via photo documentation. The evaluation of development is performed using Hive Analyzer®.
The assessments are carried out frequently over at least one brood cycle (approx. one month) in order to evaluate acute and possible delayed adverse effects of a test item on the honey bee colony. Overwintering can be included, if requested.
One study can be performed with different treatments making it possible to observe a dose response. Eurofins Agroscience Services conducts such studies in Germany, Spain and the USA.
Large scale colony feeding studies, according to request of regulatory authorities in North America
“Large Scale Colony Feeding Study” (LSCFS) are designed to quantify chronic exposure via sucrose solution/colony response relationships of pesticides on honey bees. Potential effects on free foraging whole colonies during and after dietary intake of a known concentration of pesticide are determined.
The LSCFS design involves a relatively large number of replicates (e.g. 12 sites/colonies per treatment), treatment levels (5 treatments plus controls), and colony condition assessments (e.g. 8-10 assessments over 12 or more months, including overwintering). The primary measurement endpoints for colony feeding studies include colony strength, brood pattern and development, food storage and consumption, and queen and colony health. Other potential endpoints include overwintering survival, ability to requeen and other fitness measures such as colony weight or health status.
Feeding studies may facilitate the quantification of a dose-response relationship and determination of a No Observed Adverse Effect Concentration (NOAEC) at the colony level (e.g. spiked nectar). This information may be particularly useful and transferable from the test concentration to other crops where residue concentrations in pollen and nectar are available in conjunction with associated application rates.
Sampling for Residue Analysis and Additional Information
The following samplings can be included:
- sampling of forager bees in front of the hives
- Preparation of pollen loads and nectar stomachs from collected forager bees
- Sampling of bee products from within the hive: (nectar/honey, pollen, larval food, wax and royal jelly)
- Sampling of pollen from pollen traps (for residue analysis and / or pollen source identification)
- Sampling of honey and bees from the hive foranalysis of bee diseases and viruses in specialized laboratories
- Further samplings on special request
Industry partnerships
- LAVES Institut für Bienenkunde, Celle
- Länderinstitut für Bienenkunde, Hohen-Neuendorf
- Long-term cooperation with local farmers
Participations, Memberships: AG Bienenschutz, ICPPR working groups, international ringtest groups to work on OECD guideline proposals.
For further information, please contact us