Oxidative stress in stingless bees exposed to pesticides and heavy metals: a systematic review

Stingless bees play a crucial role in maintaining biodiversity and supporting agricultural production; however, they are increasingly exposed to environmental contaminants associated with the intensification of anthropogenic activities. This qualitative systematic review aimed to synthesize and comparatively analyze the available evidence on the effects of pesticides and heavy metals on oxidative stress biomarkers in stingless bees, considering the evaluated species, classes of contaminants, exposure routes, and observed physiological responses. Literature searches were conducted in the Web of Science and Scopus databases via the CAPES Journals Portal, resulting in the inclusion of 18 studies. The findings indicate that insecticides, fungicides, herbicides, and heavy metals induce relevant sublethal effects, frequently converging on physiological pathways related to redox imbalance, such as the modulation of antioxidant enzymes and increased markers of oxidative damage. The review also highlights the predominance of laboratory-based studies and the concentration of data on a limited number of species, underscoring important knowledge gaps.