Plants that have been treated with pesticide, according to researchers at Newcastle University and Trinity College in Dublin, produce nectar that bees feel a stronger attraction towards. The exposure to high levels of pesticides might turn very harmful for the little insects, as it exposes them to high levels of toxins.
Published in Nature, the study was supported by the Insect Pollinators Initiative, in collaboration with the Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council, Defra, the Natural Environment Research Council, the Scottish Government and the Wellcome Trust, being also funded by the Irish Research Council, Science Foundation Ireland, and National Science Foundation.
The study found that both honeybees and buff-tailed bumblebees were unable to taste the neonicotinoid -based pesticides from nectar.
As they could not perceive the difference, it was proved that shortly after that, not only did they not avoid food containing this substance but they showed an inclination towards it. I guess harmful drugs do exist in the insect world.
The study also revealed that bumblebees showed more preference for sugar solution containing pesticides than honeybees. The lead scientist of the study, Professor Geraldine Wright said that the pesticide the bees are ingesting is tasteless for them, but it basically has a poisoning effect.
The bees have a crucial role in increasing crop production, as they help pollinating plants. They have been estimated at € 153 billion worldwide. A couple of years ago, in 2013, a ban was introduced on the use of neonicotinoid-based pesticides on crops, to allow experts to carry out studies and establish how harmful the substance is.
The study led by Professor Geraldine Wright also revealed why the bees prefer plants that have been treated with these types of pesticides. The answer might be that neonicotinoids have about the same effects on them as nicotine has on humans.
Thus, they could affect the bee brain and create an addiction. This would have an incredibly negative impact because it might affect the vast majority of bee population, as long as they choose nectar that has been poisoned with these pesticides. However, there is no scientific “proof” yet regarding bees’ addiction to neonicotinoid, so it only remains a “hypothesis” based on their observations. Further studies are to be carried out to determine if it is true… Assuming of course the bees don’t get completely wiped out in the meantime.
“Experts” say the bee population is already in decline. Research shows that bees from U.S.A. and Europe die faster… possibly for a wide variety of causes. Among these, pesticide use is probably one of the most important factors….
Source: Wall Street OTC
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i love hoey on pancakes for breakfast… but at this rate, our kids and their kids may never taste sweet honey. truly depressing.
you know bees not only makes honey they are actualy the most important animal/insect to our world due too polination and they gives us sources of food such as broccoli, asparagus, cantaloupes, cucumbers, pumpkins, blueberries, watermelons, almonds, apples, cranberries, and cherries and they making flowers
NORAHG RESPONDS AGAINST NATURE-FANATICS ― MOCK-ALLEGATIONS ABOUT BEES ADDICTED TO INSECTICIDE ARE TOTALLY RIDICULOUS !
The reckless pesticide-hating authors in the journal Nature are WRONG ! Bees somehow show a preference for food containing neonicotinoid insecticides ?!?! Really ?!?! This is a cause of bee colony collapse disorder ?!?! Really ?!?! This is TOTALLY RIDICULOUS and BEYOND STUPID !!! Nature SHOULD LEAVE SCIENCE TO THE REAL EXPERTS, and stop relying upon amateurish and discredited reports. Nature CANNOT be considered as a credible source of reports on so-called bee colony collapse disorder. The authors in the journal Nature could NOT even be published in more legitimate and expert peer-reviewed journal or presented at an international conference. Moreover, the authors in the journal Nature have NO recognized expertise in matters concerning bees and pest control products. Overwhelming scientific evidence clearly demonstrates that neonicotinoid insecticides will NOT harm bees. Under normal field use, THE EXPOSURE TO BEES IS AT VERY LOW LEVELS, FAR TOO LOW TO CAUSE HARMFUL EFFECTS. Independent, long-term, controlled field tests have repeatedly shown NO EFFECTS on bee mortality, weight gain, worker longevity, brood development, honey yield, and over-winter survival relative to bees in areas where treated seed was not used. Many of these studies have been published NOT in journal of Nature, but in REAL peer-reviewed journals, as well as presented at REAL international conferences. http://wp.me/p1jq40-5eZ http://wp.me/p1jq40-6H8 If the authors in the journal Nature were not so scientifically illiterate, they would know that scientific research shows that, as reported through EPA’s and Health Canada’s vast toxicology database, NO harm will occur to bees. The alleged losses of bees are, in fact, the fault of the bee-keepers and THEIR mis-management practices. They are responsible, and NOT neonicotinoid insecticides. Their prohibition will not save bees since harming bees with these insecticides is a MYTH ! Neonicotinoid insecticides cause NO harm, and WILL NOT harm bees. Researchers have NOT identified a single cause of over-wintering honeybee losses. Moreover, researchers have NOT been able to identify a single cause of bee colony collapse disorder. Under normal field use of neonicotinoid insecticides, the exposure to bees is at very low levels, far too low to cause harmful effects. There is NO evidence to suggest a link between neonicotinoid insecticides and bee colony collapse disorder. Overall, so-called links and causes between bee colony collapse disorder and neonicotinoid insecticides are mere MYTHS ! The weight of the scientific evidence clearly shows that neonicotinoid insecticides DO NOT affect long-term colony health. Overall, neonicotinoid insecticides play a NEGLIGIBLE role compared to diseases, viruses, and loss of habitat. Most experts agree that, in recent years, bee colony collapse disorder is the result of a combination of factors, including parasitic mites and diseases. Recent scientific research points toward a combination of parasitic mites ( specifically the varroa mite ) and pathogens ( such as nosema and viral diseases ) as main factors. Although some neonicotinoid insecticides are toxic to bees upon direct contact ( as are many insecticides ), they are used in a way that minimizes any direct exposure to bees, such as seed treatment. Seed treatment insecticides have been used for a decade with almost NO incidences of negative impacts on bees by minimizing potential exposures of non-target insects such as bees. Independent, long-term, controlled field tests have repeatedly shown NO effects on bee losses, weight gain, worker longevity, brood development, honey yield, and over-winter survival relative to bees in areas where treated seed was not used. If we had less conventional neonicotinoid use in the environment, we would still have bee colony collapse disorder, because many bee-keepers are NOT competent to manage their hives. Prohibition will not save bees. http://tinyurl.com/pxqzh6m For the whole truth regarding BEES, go to The Pesticide Truths Web-Site … http://wp.me/p1jq40-6WJ http://wp.me/P1jq40-2BA http://wp.me/p1jq40-6H8 http://wp.me/p1jq40-7ty We are the National Organization Responding Against HUJE that conspire to destroy the Green space and other industries ( NORAH G ). As a non-profit and independent organization, we are dedicated to reporting about NON-EXPERT PESTICIDE-HATING FANATICS, as well as the work of RESPECTED and HIGHLY RATED EXPERTS who promote ENVIRONMENTAL REALISM and PESTICIDE TRUTHS. http://wp.me/p1jq40-8DV Get the latest details at http://pesticidetruths.com/ WILLIAM H GATHERCOLE AND NORAH G