New research in The FASEB Journal suggests that the neonicotinoid class of pesticides do not kill bees but impair their brain function to disturb learning, blunt food gathering skills and harm reproduction
In research report published in the May 2015 issue of The FASEB Journal, scientists report that a particular class of pesticides called “neonicotinoids” wreaks havoc on the bee populations, ultimately putting some crops that rely on pollination in jeopardy. Specifically, these pesticides kill bee brain cells, rendering them unable to learn, gather food and reproduce. The report, however, also suggests that the effects of these pesticides on bee colonies may be reversible by decreasing or eliminating the use of these pesticides on plants pollenated by bees and increasing the availability of “bee-friendly” plants available to the insects.
“Our study shows that the neonicotinoid pesticides are a risk to our bees and we should stop using them on plants that bees visit,” said Christopher N. Connolly, Ph.D., a researcher involved in the work from the Medical Research Institute at the Ninewells Medical School at the University of Dundee in Dundee, UK. “Neonicotinoids are just a few examples of hundreds of pesticides we use on our crops and in our gardens. Stop using all pesticides in your garden and see insect damage as a success. You are providing for your native wildlife. Nasty caterpillars grow into beautiful butterflies.”
To make their discovery, Connolly and colleagues fed bees a sugar solution with very low neonicotinoid pesticide levels typically found in flowers (2.5 parts per billion) and tracked the toxins to the bee brain. They found that pesticide levels in the bees’ brains were sufficient to cause the learning cells to run out of energy. Additionally, the brain cells were even vulnerable to this effect at just one tenth of the level present. When the ability of the bee’s brain to learn is limited, the bee is unable to master key skills such as recognizing the presence of nectar and pollen from the smell emitted from flowers. In addition, scientists fed bumblebee colonies this same very low level of pesticide in a remote site in the Scottish Highlands where they were unlikely to be exposed to any other pesticides. They found that just a few of the exposed colonies performed well, colonies were smaller, and nests were in poor condition with fungus taking over. This further suggests that bumblebees exposed to this type of pesticide become poor learners, become unable to properly gather food, and become unable to properly nurture the next generation of bees.
“It is ironic that neonicotinoids, pesticides developed to preserve the health of plants, ultimately inflict tremendous damage on plant life,” said Gerald Weissmann, M.D., Editor-in-Chief of The FASEB Journal. “These chemicals destroy the insect communities required by plants for their own reproduction.”
Read more: Pesticides alter bees’ brains, making them unable to live and reproduce adequately
The Latest on: Neonicotinoid
[google_news title=”” keyword=”Neonicotinoid” num_posts=”10″ blurb_length=”0″ show_thumb=”left”]
via Google News
The Latest on: Neonicotinoid
- Fourth ’emergency authorisation’ of bee-threatening pesticideon March 29, 2024 at 1:06 am
Lawyers have warned the UK’s environmental watchdog that the 2024 ‘emergency authorisation’ of a pesticide which poses a serious risk to honeybees and waterways may be yet another instance of the ...
- Government accused of now breaking environmental law TWO YEARS in a rowon March 28, 2024 at 7:31 am
Lawyers have said that the government may have breached environmental law in approving use of a bee-killing pesticide ...
- Vermont House passes pollinator protection billon March 27, 2024 at 9:30 am
The Vermont House of Representatives gave its strong endorsement March 21 to legislation designed to protect bees and other pollinators in the state from toxic neonicotinoid pesticides, known commonly ...
- Despathy: Homeschool civics at State Houseon March 26, 2024 at 9:01 pm
Recently, my homeschool civics class spent the day at the State House. We prepped well. In class, we talked political parties, the supermajority, constitutional republic versus democracy, inalienable ...
- Message from Montpelier: Rep. Lori Houghton talks transportation, data privacy and pesticideson March 26, 2024 at 11:15 am
Message from Montpelier is a recurring column written by Essex-Westford's legislative delegation.
- Alison Despathy: Homeschool civics at the Statehouseon March 26, 2024 at 1:47 am
At noon we landed at the press conference which focused on banning/reducing PFAS (forever chemicals) and neonicotinoid pesticides. This press conference was a great opportunity for my students to ...
- Treated Seed Ban May Be Delayedon March 25, 2024 at 9:51 pm
The state will delay its ban on farmers’ use of treated seeds and extend a waiver process that could allow further use of the seeds. Delaying the ban was met with approval by the New York Farm Bureau ...
- Amidst Policy Deliberations, Scientist Sounds Alarm on Bee Die-Offs Linked to Neonicotinoid Pesticideson March 22, 2024 at 10:44 am
Amidst Policy Deliberations, Scientist Sounds Alarm on Bee Die-Offs Linked to Neonicotinoid Pesticides ...
- Bees are feeling the sting of toxic pesticides – it is time for a total banon March 21, 2024 at 9:29 am
We all know that sugar is bad for us, but the industry’s use of chemicals is deadly for bees - so harmful that it is one of the biggest threats they face with terrible consquences for us all. It’s tim ...
- Neonicotinoid prawn cocktail, anyone?on March 21, 2024 at 8:00 am
Most Australians wouldn’t think twice about throwing a ‘shrimp on the barbie’ with their mates… This Aussie tradition is an iconic custom often used in homely backyards, picturesque riverside ...
via Bing News