Scientists have reported that a certain class of pesticides is turning bees into zombies by killing vital brain cells, leaving them unable to learn, gather food and reproduce. In a research report published in 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 function and survive. “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. 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.
Scientists have reported that a certain class of pesticides is turning bees into zombies by killing vital brain cells, leaving them unable to learn, gather food and reproduce. In a research report published in 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 function and survive. “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. 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.”
Source: Click Green, 30 April 2015
http://www.clickgreen.org.uk/research/data/125972-study-links-pesticide-use-to-dying-colonies-of-zombie-bees-.html
