Bioinsecticides and Honey Bees

Year 2025, Volume: 8 Issue: 2, 147 - 157, 30.12.2025

Sibel Borak , Zihni Serbay Sandalcıoğlu , Fazlı Öztürk , Cengiz Erkan

Abstract

Biopesticides, which are natural compounds or microorganisms, have been gaining increasing importance as alternatives to synthetic pesticides within sustainable agricultural practices. The adverse effects of chemical pesticides on non-target pollinators such as honey bees have accelerated the shift toward bioinsecticides. However, the fact that biopesticides are of natural origin does not imply that they are entirely harmless. This review evaluates current scientific findings that reveal the lethal and sublethal effects of microbial and botanical bioinsecticides on honey bees, together with their general definitions. Among microbial bioinsecticides, Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) is generally considered safe; nevertheless, certain strains and formulations can cause disruptions in larval development, flight performance, and gut microbiota. Entomopathogenic fungi such as Beauveria bassiana and Metarhizium anisopliae typically exhibit low toxicity, though increased mortality or behavioral alterations have been reported at high doses. In contrast, spinosad can induce pronounced neurotoxic and immunosuppressive effects in honey bees. Among botanical bioinsecticides, compounds such as azadirachtin have been reported to impair larval development, reduce flight activity, or cause mortality at elevated doses. Conversely, some essential oils exhibit low toxicity profiles. In conclusion, although bioinsecticides are generally regarded as more ecologically safe alternatives, further research addressing their potential risks to bees is needed.

Keywords

Biopesticide , Honey bee (Apis mellifera L.) , Sublethal effects , Microbial biopesticide , Botanical bioinsecticide

Biyoinsektisitler ve Bal Arıları

Abstract

Biyopestisitler, sürdürülebilir tarım uygulamalarında sentetik pestisitlere alternatif olarak giderek önem kazanan, doğal kökenli bileşikler veya mikroorganizmalardır . Kimyasal pestisitlerin bal arıları gibi hedef dışı tozlayıcılar üzerindeki olumsuz etkileri biyoinsektisitlere yönelimi hızlandırmıştır. Ancak biyopestisitlerin doğal olmaları, tamamen zararsız oldukları anlamına gelmemektedir. Bu derlemede, mikrobiyal ve botanik biyoinsektisitler genel tanımlamaları ile birlikte bal arıları üzerindeki letal ve subletal etkilerini ortaya koyan güncel bilimsel bulgular değerlendirilmiştir. Mikrobiyal biyoinsektisitlerden Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) genellikle güvenli kabul edilse de bazı suş ve formülasyonların larval gelişim, uçuş performansı ve bağırsak mikrobiyotasında bozulmalara yol açabilmektedir. Beauveria bassiana ve Metarhizium anisopliae gibi entomopatojenik funguslar çoğunlukla düşük toksisite gösterse de yüksek dozlarda mortalite artışı veya davranışsal değişiklikler bildirilmiştir. Spinosad ise bal arıları için ciddi nörotoksik ve immün baskılayıcı etkiler oluşturabilmektedir. Botanik biyoinsektisitlerden azadirachtin başta olmak üzere bazı bileşiklerin larva dönemindeki gelişimini bozduğu, uçuş aktivitesini azalttığı veya yüksek dozlarda mortaliteye yol açtığı bildirilmiştir. Buna karşın bazı uçucu yağlar düşük toksisite profili sergilemektedir. Sonuç olarak biyoinsektisitlerin ekolojik açıdan daha güvenli seçenekler olduğu kabul edilse de arılar üzerindeki potansiyel risklerini ele alan yeni araştırmalara ihtiyaç bulunmaktadır.

Keywords

Biyopestisit , Bal arısı (Apis mellifera L.) , Subletal etki , Mikrobiyal biyopestisit , Botanik biyoinsektisit

Ethical Statement

Arılar üzerine yapılan bir derleme çalışması olduğu için etik beyana gerek duyulmamıştır.

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