Honeybee (Apis mellifera) Chronic Oral Toxicity Test (10-Day Feeding) (OECD TG 245)
The Honeybee Chronic Oral Toxicity Test according to OECD TG 245 is a laboratory assay designed to evaluate the long-term effects of chemicals on adult honeybees (Apis mellifera) via repeated oral exposure. This test provides critical information on potential sublethal and chronic effects relevant to colony health and sustainability.
In this study, adult worker bees are fed a sugar solution containing a range of concentrations of the test substance over a 10-day exposure period under controlled laboratory conditions. Observations are made daily to monitor mortality, feeding behavior, and any signs of abnormal activity.
Key endpoints include cumulative mortality, changes in feeding rate, and other sublethal effects such as reduced activity or behavioral alterations. Data are used to establish concentration–response relationships and to determine endpoints such as the No Observed Effect Concentration (NOEC) and the Lowest Observed Effect Concentration (LOEC).
This test is an important component of environmental risk assessment, providing insight into the chronic oral toxicity of chemicals to honeybees and supporting the protection of pollinator populations.
