Meacci Simone, Corsi Lorenzo, Santecchia Eleonora, Ruschioni Sara
Department of Agricultural, Food and Environmental Sciences, Polytechnic University of Marche, Via Brecce Bianche, 60131 Ancona, Italy.
Department of Industrial Engineering and Mathematical Sciences, Polytechnic University of Marche, Via Brecce Bianche, 60131 Ancona, Italy.
Insects. 2025 Apr 1;16(4):373. doi: 10.3390/insects16040373.
Bees (Hymenoptera, Anthophila) are widely recognized for their essential ecological roles, including pollination and biodiversity maintenance. Recently, their ability to collect environmental particulate matter through electrostatic forces has been explored for biomonitoring purposes. This review integrates knowledge on electrostatic pollen adhesion with emerging insights into particulate matter adhesion to bees, emphasizing their potential as bioindicators. The mechanisms of electrostatic adhesion, influenced by factors such as the physicochemical properties of particulate matter and bee morphology, are discussed in detail. Additionally, the study evaluates the adhesion efficiency of pollutants, including heavy metals, microplastics, nanoplastics, pathogens, pesticides, radionuclides, and volatile organic compounds. This multidisciplinary approach underscores the role of bees in advancing environmental monitoring methodologies and offers innovative tools for assessing ecosystem health while addressing the drivers of bee decline.
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