A review: risk assessment of pesticides on honey bee and pollination of agriculture crops in Pakistan
Saboor Ahmad*, Muhammad Asif Aziz
Department of Entomology, PMAS Arid Agriculture University, Rawalpindi, Pakistan
Abstract
This paper reviews the importance of honey bee as pollinator of agriculture crops, fruit, vegetables, seeds etc. and losses in agriculture, honey bee and honey production due to use of chemical pesticides. Honey bee (Hymenoptera: Apidae) is economically important insect. Honeybees are existing all around world excluding extreme Polar Regions. Honey bees (Apis mellifera) add approximately US $200 billion to the global economy every year, mainly through crop pollination. Productivity worth of pollination dependent crops equal to US$ 1590 million in Pakistan where 61 main pollinate crops are considered as foodstuff (26 fruits, 19 vegetable, 7 oilseeds, 4 grain legumes, 2 flavoring crops and 3 nut shrubs) depend on honey bee pollination. Honey bee population is declining with alarming speed all around the world and it is endangering global food security because one third of agriculture production depend upon on pollination particularly by honey bee. Current reduction in honey bee population for agriculture pollination is threatening to nuts, fruit, vegetable and seed production in Pakistan. Several factors responsible for decline of honey bee colonies including climate change, predation by other insects, air pollution, ecosemiotic collapse, the alteration of the bee microbiome, electromagnetic radiation from the sun, expose to initial life stress, nano materials, and biochemical pesticides, diseases, parasites surroundings of honey bees. The toxic chemicals are transported in hive through the pollen and nectar which may destroy the entire honey bee colony. Pesticides pattern applied in agriculture have been changed in last decade. This review research indicates how pesticide is used in agricultural crops for control of pests affecting on honey bee health and decline of bee populations. Then concludes with intensive studies on current management protocols would support in procedure formulation and resolution making polices regarding to shelter honey bees and management of pollination for agriculture purpose, which is lacking.
