Bumblebees may be tiny, but they are essential to agriculture, with about one third of the world’s food production depending on pollinators like bees. Researchers are now warning that one pesticide could be adding to the pressures already facing these insects.
According to ScienceDaily, researchers at the Georgia Institute of Technology found that sulfoxaflor, a pesticide introduced in 2013 to control sap-feeding pests such as aphids, changed gene activity and reproductive function in bumblebees. The chemical is used on crops including soybeans and corn, but it is also known to be toxic to bees.
In the USDA-funded study, worker bumblebees were exposed to low doses of sulfoxaflor before scientists examined changes in their gene expression. The biggest shifts were found in ovarian tissue, which the researchers say suggests the pesticide may interfere with reproduction.
The team flash froze bee tissues and analyzed RNA to see how gene activity changed after exposure. They also used computational models to determine which biological systems were most affected, and said the results could point to fewer offspring over time and declining bee populations.
Researchers said the findings add to concerns about how modern agriculture can protect crops while avoiding harm to beneficial insects. They also noted that bumblebees are facing other stressors, including rising temperatures and more frequent heatwaves.
