Abamectin and Difenoconazole Monitoring in Strawberry Flowers and Pollen Sampled from Tetragonisca Angustula (Latreille) (Hymenoptera: Apidae) Hives Located in Crop Vicinities

Abstract The increase of agricultural productivity associated with the emergence and the extensive use of agrochemicals is undeniable. However, the harmful effects, were laid aside in the first moment. Strong evidence indicates that the rising use of agrochemicals is one of the factors associated with the decreasing of pollinating insects, such as bees. The present work aims the determination of the insecticide abamectin (ABA) and the fungicide difenoconazole (DIF) in strawberry flowers (Fragaria x ananassa DUCH.) and pollen sampled from beehives of the stingless bee Tetragonisca angustula Latreille (Hymenoptera: Apidae) located nearby strawberry fields. For analysis, QuEChERS method was optimized, and analytical performance and determination of the two agrochemicals were verified using LC-MS/MS considering validation parameters as linearity (0.5 to 1500 µgL− 1), precision (> 80%), and accuracy (< 20). Thus, the method was applied in flowers and pollen sampled from field samples from three campaigns. While abamectin was not detected, the systemic fungicide difenoconazole was detected in almost all flowers and pollen samples. The results were then discussed mainly according to difenoconazole application and transport to colonies to estimate a preliminary environmental risk assessment considering exposure rates and toxicity data from the literature.