Microplastics in the Honey bee (Apis mellifera) from Urban Apiaries in Metropolitan Lima, Peru

Introduction. Microplastics (MPs) are currently an emerging problem due to their slow degradation, and their wide distribution in soil and atmosphere, contributing to an environmental threat. The honey bee (Apis mellifera) serves as a crucial pollinator and environmental bioindicator, playing an essential role in agrobiodiversity. Objective. This study evaluated the presence of MPs in worker bees from urban hives in Metropolitan Lima, Peru. Materials and Methods. Honey bee samples were collected from three urban apiaries in the districts of Puente Piedra (north), La Molina (central), and Pachacamac (south) between October and December 2023. MPs were quantified in particles per 90 bees, considering both external and internal surfaces, and classified by shape, color, and size. Results and discussions. The presence of microplastics (MPs) was identified in Apis mellifera from all three evaluated apiaries. Similar quantities of MPs were observed in the apiaries located in Pachacamac (41 external particles and 10 internal) and La Molina (38 external particles and 12 internal), with lower quantities found in Puente Piedra (19 external particles and 15 internal). The external surfaces of A. mellifera had more MPs than the internal parts. Significant differences were found in the distribution of filamentous MPs across the apiaries. Filamentous MPs were predominant, with colors including blue, black, red, and white, and sizes ranging from 40 to 4400 µm. Conclusions. The findings and data suggest that worker Apis mellifera bees could serve as potential bioindicators of microplastic contamination in urban apiaries.