Thiamethoxam toxicity on the stingless bee Friesiomelitta varia: LC, survival time, and enzymatic biomarkers assessment.

Bees play a crucial role as pollinating insects in both natural and cultivated areas. However, the use of pesticides, such as thiamethoxam, has been identified as a contributing factor compromising bee health. The current risk assessment primarily relies on the model species Apis mellifera, raising concerns about the applicability of these assessments to other bee groups, including stingless bees.

Transcriptomic analysis of Malpighian tubules from the stingless bee Melipona scutellaris reveals thiamethoxam-induced damages.

The concern about pesticide exposure to neotropical bees has been increasing in the last few years, and knowledge gaps have been identified. Although stingless bees, (e.g.