Damage assessment of environmental contaminants in apiary honey bee (Apis mellifera) colonies

¹ Rostov State Transport University, Rostovskogo Strelkovogo Polka Narodnogo Opolchenya Square, 2, Rostov-on-Don, 344038, Russia
² Don State Technical University, Gagarin Square,1, Rostov-on-Don, 344003, Russia
³ Abkhaz State University, Universitetskaya str.,1, Sukhumi, 384900, Republic of Abkhazia

¹ Corresponding author: tas242@yandex.ru

Abstract

The article addresses the assessment of harm from pollutants to honey bees in apiaries under escalating pesticide pressure associated with the cultivation of entomophilous crops. The stated objective is pursued by investigating the consequences of pesticide exposure for the health of pollinator bees. Methodologically, the study combines general scientific and domain-specific approaches, including analysis and synthesis, systems and logical methods, interpretation of legal norms, and comparative-legal and structural–functional analyses of international and Russian sources. The research finds that improper field treatments against agricultural pests frequently lead to mass mortality of honey bee colonies, while in practice no unified approach exists for quantifying damage caused to colonies by pesticide applications to crops. Accordingly, the study formulates recommendations: to codify, at the regulatory level, a standard methodology with an explicit reference to the “3-D” framework; to standardize the inspection report format (including colony strength metrics and brood photogrammetry); to regulate chain-of-custody procedures for sampling; and to establish a federal electronic registry of pesticide applications with advance notification to beekeepers. In the authors’ view, these measures will protect pollinator bees from harmful pollutant exposures and ensure the normal functioning of beekeeping operations, ultimately supporting the development of apiculture in the Russian Federation.