Honeybee Genes Alter on Exposure to Insecticides Limiting Their Lifespan

A latest study conducted by researchers at The University of Nottingham suggests that exposure to insecticides alters  genes in honeybees.

According to the new finding, exposure to the insecticide neonicotinoid leads to changes in the genes of honeybees.

This study supports the decision recently made by the European Food and Safety Authority to temporarily ban three neonicotinoids that include imidacloprid, clothianidin, and thiamethoxam as they pose high risk to bees.

The first new class of insecticide to be introduced in the last 50 years was neonicotinoids that is currently the most widely used insecticide in the world. These neuro active insecticides are chemically related to nicotine. When compared to insects they show a lower toxicity in mammals, reports Wikipedia.  

This is the first comprehensive study that focuses on modification in the activity of the genes of honeybees that is associated to neonicotinoids and imidacloprid. It was led by Dr Reinhard Stoger, associate professor in Epigenetics in the University's School of Bioscience.

The researchers conducted the study in a realistic condition and showed an extremely low exposure of just two parts per billion results in an impact on the activity of a few honeybee genes

The researchers noticed that the cells of the honeybee larvae were stressed in order to increase the genes activities that were involved in breaking down the toxins. They struggled to cope with the strong insecticides. This kind of abrupt alteration limits the lifespan of the honeybee and reduces the chances of a larva to survive to adulthood.

Dr Stoger concluded saying, "Although larvae can still grow and develop in the presence of imidacloprid, the stability of the developmental process appears to be compromised. Should the bees be exposed to additional stresses such as pests, disease and bad weather then it is likely to increase the rate of development failure."

The study was published in the journal PLOS ONE.