Oxidative stress in stingless bees exposed to pesticides and heavy metals: a systematic review
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.36560/19320262200Palavras-chave:
Contaminants, Anthropogenic activities, Sublethal effects, Physiological responses, Systematic reviewResumo
Stingless bees play a crucial role in maintaining biodiversity and supporting agricultural production; however, they are increasingly exposed to environmental contaminants associated with the intensification of anthropogenic activities. This qualitative systematic review aimed to synthesize and comparatively analyze the available evidence on the effects of pesticides and heavy metals on oxidative stress biomarkers in stingless bees, considering the evaluated species, classes of contaminants, exposure routes, and observed physiological responses. Literature searches were conducted in the Web of Science and Scopus databases via the CAPES Journals Portal, resulting in the inclusion of 18 studies. The findings indicate that insecticides, fungicides, herbicides, and heavy metals induce relevant sublethal effects, frequently converging on physiological pathways related to redox imbalance, such as the modulation of antioxidant enzymes and increased markers of oxidative damage. The review also highlights the predominance of laboratory-based studies and the concentration of data on a limited number of species, underscoring important knowledge gaps.
Referências
AGUIAR, J. M. R. B. V. et al. Neonicotinoid effects on tropical bees: Imidacloprid impairs innate appetitive responsiveness, learning and memory in the stingless bee Melipona quadrifasciata. Science of the Total Environment, v. 877, n. December 2022, p. 1–8, 2023.
ALMEIDA, C. H. S. et al. Science of the Total Environment Sublethal agrochemical exposures can alter honey bees ’and Neotropical stingless bees’ color preferences, respiration rates, and locomotory responses. Science of the Total Environment, v. 779, p. 146432, 2021.
ARAÚJO, R. dos S. et al. Behavioral and physiological effects of difenoconazole on stingless bees: A multi-species analysis. Science of the Total Environment, v. 967, n. January, p. 1–10, 2025.
BERNARDES, R. C. et al. Impact of copper sulfate on survival, behavior, midgut morphology, and antioxidant activity of Partamona helleri (Apidae: Meliponini). Environmental Science and Pollution Research, v. 29, n. 4, p. 6294–6305, 2022.
BISCASSI, G. F. et al. Residual determination and acute toxicity of the neonicotinoid clothianidin in the neotropical stingless bee Tetragonisca angustula Latreille, 1811 (Apidae: Meliponini). Chemosphere, v. 349, n. September 2023, 2024.
BOGO, G. et al. Current status of toxicological research on stingless bees (Apidae, Meliponini): Important pollinators neglected by pesticides’ regulations. Science of the Total Environment, v. 959, n. September 2024, p. 1–14, 2025.
BOTINA, L. L. et al. Toxicological assessments of agrochemical effects on stingless bees (Apidae, Meliponini). MethodsX, v. 7, 2020.
BUENO, F. G. B. et al. Stingless bee floral visitation in the global tropics and subtropics. Global Ecology and Conservation, v. 43, n. March, p. Article e02454 (p. 1-13), 2023.
DA SILVA, J. A. et al. Sublethal exposure to thiamethoxam and pyraclostrobin affects the midgut and Malpighian tubules of the stingless bee Frieseomelitta varia (Hymenoptera: Apidae: Meliponini). Ecotoxicology, v. 33, n. 8, p. 875–883, 2024.
DA SILVA, J. A. et al. Sublethal pesticide exposure alters stress response, detoxification and immunity gene expression in larvae of the stingless bee Frieseomelitta varia (Apidae : Meliponini). Environmental Science and Pollution Research, v. 32, n. 10, p. 5884–5893, 2025.
DE PAULA, M. C. et al. Impacts of the insecticide thiamethoxam on the native stingless bee Plebeia catamarcensis (Hymenoptera, Apidae, Meliponini). Environmental Pollution, v. 339, n. April, 2023.
DE SOUZA, F. C. et al. Thiamethoxam toxicity on the stingless bee Friesiomelitta varia: LC50, survival time, and enzymatic biomarkers assessment. Chemosphere, v. 363, n. September 2023, p. 1–7, 2024.
DORNELES, A. L. et al. Larvae of stingless bee Scaptotrigona bipunctata exposed to organophosphorus pesticide develop into lighter, smaller and deformed adult workers. Environmental Pollution, v. 272, p. 116414, 2021.
DOS SANTOS, C. F.; OTESBELGUE, A.; BLOCHTEIN, B. The dilemma of agricultural pollination in Brazil: Beekeeping growth and insecticide use. PLOS ONE, v. 13, n. 7, p. e0200286, 2018.
FERREIRA, M. F. de O. et al. Effects of abamectin and acetamiprid pesticides on the survival and behavior of Scaptotrigona aff. Journal of Apicultural Research, v. 61, n. 1, p. 37–44, 2022.
FERREIRA, L. M. N. et al. Effects of acephate and glyphosate-based agrochemicals on the survival and flight of Plebeia lucii Moure, 2004 (Apidae: Meliponini). Ecotoxicology, v. 32, n. 7, p. 926–936, 2023.
GOMES, D. S. et al. Acute exposure to fungicide fluazinam induces cell death in the midgut, oxidative stress and alters behavior of the stingless bee Partamona helleri (Hymenoptera: Apidae). Ecotoxicology and Environmental Safety, v. 282, p. 116677, 2024.
GRÜTER, C. Stingless Bees: Their Behavior, Ecology and Evolution. Cham, Switzerland: Springer Nature Switzerland, 2020-. ISSN 2509-6753.
KODRÍK, D. et al. Hormonal regulation of response to oxidative stress in insects—an update. International Journal of Molecular Sciences, v. 16, n. 10, p. 25788–25816, 2015.
LOURENCETTI, A. P. S. et al. Surrogate species in pesticide risk assessments: Toxicological data of three stingless bees species. Environmental Pollution, v. 318, n. December 2022, 2023.
MICHENER, C. D. The Bees of the World. 2. ed. Baltimore: Johns Hopkins University Press, 2007-. ISSN 00030996.
MOTTA, J. V. de O. et al. Effects of sublethal concentration of thiamethoxam formulation on the wild stingless bee, Partamona helleri Friese (Hymenoptera: Apidae): Histopathology, oxidative stress and behavioral changes. Science of the Total Environment, v. 957, n. November, 2024.
PRADO, I. S. et al. Glyphosate-based formulation affects Tetragonisca angustula worker’s locomotion, behavior and biology. Ecotoxicology, v. 32, n. 4, p. 513–524, 2023.
SIMONE-FINSTROM, M. et al. Migratory management and environmental conditions affect lifespan and oxidative stress in honey bees. Scientific Reports, v. 6, n. 1, p. 32023, 2016.
WANCURA, G. C.; MILANESI, P. M.; CARGNELUTTI, D. Inoculação com fungos micorrízicos arbusculares na tolerância de plantas ao cádmio: uma revisão sistemática. Scientific Electronic Archives, v. 18, n. Id, p. 1–5, 2025.
Downloads
Publicado
Como Citar
Edição
Seção
Licença
Copyright (c) 2026 Scientific Electronic Archives
Este trabalho está licenciado sob uma licença Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
A revista se reserva o direito de fazer alterações nas regras originais, na ortografia e na ordem gramatical, a fim de manter o idioma de culto padrão, respeitando, no entanto, o estilo dos autores. Os artigos publicados são de propriedade da revista Scientific Electronic Archives, tornando-se sua reimpressão total ou parcial, sujeitos à autorização expressa da direção da revista. A fonte original da publicação deve ser mantida. Os originais não serão devolvidos aos autores. As opiniões expressas pelos autores dos artigos são de sua exclusiva responsabilidade.
The journal reserves the right to make changes to the original rules, spelling and grammatical order, in order to keep the language of worship default, respecting, however, the style of the authors. Articles published are the property of Scientific Electronic Archives magazine, becoming its total or partial reprint, subject to the express authorization of the direction of the journal. The original source of publication should be retained. The originals will not be returned to the authors. Opinions expressed by authors of articles are solely your responsibility.
This journal uses the License Creative Commons Atribuição 4.0 Internacional.
Accepted 2026-04-01
Published 2026-04-13
