Ingestible Hydrogel Microparticles Could Protect Bees from Pesticide Exposure
Bees are indispensable for global agriculture, providing essential pollination services that support crop production and contribute billions of dollars to the global economy. However, the widespread use of harmful pesticides, particularly neonicotinoids, poses a significant threat to bee health. These pesticides affect bee behavior and survival, raising concerns about the sustainability of agricultural practices.
In a breakthrough discovery, scientists have developed ingestible hydrogel microparticles (IHMs) that could protect bees from the harmful effects of pesticide exposure. IHMs work by absorbing pesticides like imidacloprid—a commonly used neonicotinoid—within the bee’s gastrointestinal tract, significantly reducing the damage caused by these chemicals.
Researchers used the common eastern bumblebee (Bombus impatiens) to test the effectiveness of IHMs in mitigating the lethal and sublethal effects of imidacloprid. The results were promising. Bumblebees treated with IHMs showed a 30% higher survival rate compared to those that did not receive treatment. In addition to improved survival, IHMs also enhanced the bees' feeding motivation and increased their locomotor activity by 44% after exposure to sublethal doses of the pesticide.
The researchers also observed that IHMs helped normalize wingbeat frequency, which was significantly reduced after pesticide exposure. This is an important finding, as reduced wingbeat frequency can impair the bees’ ability to forage and pollinate effectively.
While further optimization is needed, IHMs offer a scalable, sustainable solution to improve pollinator health and reduce the risks bees face during crop pollination. This development could have far-reaching implications for apiculture (beekeeping) and help ensure the health of bee populations, which are vital for both food security and biodiversity.
- Pollinators like bees play an essential role in global agriculture, yet they face significant health risks from exposure to harmful pesticides such as neonicotinoids.
- A promising new solution involves ingestible hydrogel microparticles (IHMs), which can absorb pesticides in the gastrointestinal tract of bees, potentially reducing the negative effects of pesticide exposure.
- Research using the eastern bumblebee (Bombus impatiens) and the neonicotinoid pesticide imidacloprid shows that bees treated with IHMs had better survival rates and improved health compared to untreated bees.
- The IHMs enhanced bee survival by 30%, improved feeding motivation, and boosted locomotor activity by 44% after exposure to sublethal doses of the pesticide.
- IHMs also helped restore wingbeat frequency, which had been reduced due to pesticide exposure.
- With further development, IHMs could benefit apiculture and reduce risks during crop pollination.
FAQs
What are neonicotinoids? Neonicotinoids are a type of pesticide widely used in agriculture that can be harmful to pollinators like bees by affecting their nervous systems.
What are ingestible hydrogel microparticles (IHMs)? IHMs are tiny, digestible particles that can absorb pesticides in a bee's gut, helping mitigate the negative effects of pesticide exposure.
Why are bees important for agriculture? Bees are essential pollinators that help fertilize many crops, contributing billions of dollars to global agriculture.
How do IHMs improve bee health? IHMs increase bee survival rates, improve feeding motivation, and restore normal activities like movement and wingbeats after pesticide exposure.
What is imidacloprid? Imidacloprid is a common neonicotinoid pesticide known for its harmful effects on bee populations.
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