We’re Losing Bees But Can’t Do Without Them
Pesticide levels that were previously thought to be safe for bees may actually be harmful to them. Adult bumble bees exposed to the pesticide spinosad have an impaired ability to forage for food. Spinosad is a natural pesticide derived from the bacteria Actinomycetes. It’s used in over 30 countries, including North America, Canada and the UK, to combat common crop pests such as caterpillars and thrips. Bees are important pollinators of crops. In developed countries, about a third of human food relies on their pollination. Less dramatic effects on honey bees could be going unnoticed, and other species could also be affected.
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