News From the Field

Study uncovers new link between neonicotinoid pesticide exposure and bumblebee decline


October 17, 2018

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Adding to evidence that pesticide use may be abetting the decline of bumblebees, a new study reveals that daily consumption of even small doses of neonicotinoids reduces the survival of queen and male bees, which are critical to the viability of wild populations. The study also found that exposure to neonicotinoids alters the expression of many bee genes, suggesting that the chemicals may be having a greater impact on wild bee populations than previously thought. Full Story

Source
Worcester Polytechnic Institute

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