Malondialdehyde

Chironomidae

Ecology

Biology

Pesticide

Biochemistry

Botany

Glutathione

Acute toxicity

Chronic toxicity

Larva

Chironomus riparius

Organic chemistry

Ecotoxicology

Toxicity

Lipid peroxidation

Toxicology

Environmental chemistry

Oxidative stress

Enzyme

Chemistry

Imidacloprid

Neonicotinoid

Chemosphere

Impacts of neonicotinoids on non-target insects, including aquatic species, may significantly influence ecosystem structure and functioning. The present study investigated the sensitivity of Chironomus riparius to imidacloprid exposures during 24-h, 10- and 28-days by assessing larval survival, growth, emergence and oxidative stress-related parameters. C. riparius exhibited high sensitivity compared to other model aquatic species with acute 24-h LC50 being 31.5 μg/L and 10-days LOEC (growth) 0.625 μg/L. A 28-days partial life cycle test demonstrated imidacloprid effects on the emergence of C. riparius. Exposure to sublethal concentrations during 10-days caused an imbalance in the reduced and oxidized glutathione (GSH and GSSG), and slightly induced lipid peroxidation (increased malondialdehyde, MDA). Our results indicate that oxidative stress may be a relevant mechanism in the neonicotinoid toxicity, reflected in the insect development and life cycle parameters.

Acute and (sub)chronic toxicity of the neonicotinoid imidacloprid on Chironomus riparius