Neurofunctional effects of sublethal pesticides exposure on pollinator insects and their ecosystem functions

Pesticides are products used to control pests and diseases, including plant protection products such as herbicides, fungicides, and insecticides. Before an active substance can be used in the EU, it must be approved by the European Commission. Neonicotinoids are the most used insecticide in the world due to their systemic nature, which allows them to protect crops from pests. However, they can harm non-target organisms, including bees and other pollinators, leading to negative impacts on their navigation, learning, memory, foraging, reproduction, and populations. Some neonicotinoids, such as acetamiprid, are still permitted for use despite potential risks. Risk assessments for acetamiprid may not consider exposure to wild bees or other pollinating insects, and co-exposure with other pesticides may have unknown synergistic effects. My project aims to investigate the effects of exposing pollinating insects to singular and binary mixtures of two insecticides and a fungicide, comparing them to single compounds and studying their effects on insects other than honeybees.