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Pesticide harms wild bees, unique field study shows

Date:
April 22, 2015
Source:
Lund University
Summary:
For the first time, a research project has investigated how a neonicotinoid pesticide, clothianidin, affects both honeybees and wild bees in an agricultural landscape. The study shows that honeybees can cope with exposure to the pesticide, but that it has a strong negative impact on wild bees.
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Neonicotinoids are used for seed dressing of rapeseed, to protect the young plants against flea beetles. Since 2013, use of this type of pesticide has been restricted by the EU for crops that are attractive to bees.

The research findings have now been published in the scientific journal Nature, and they show that the insecticide has a negative impact on wild bees. This is a serious matter, because wild bees play an important role in pollination of crops. Wild bees include both bumblebees and solitary bees.

"We saw a clear negative impact on growth and ability to reproduce in bumblebee colonies near treated rapeseed fields," said Maj Rundlöf from Lund University, the coordinator and principal investigator for the field study.

As well as problems with growth and reproduction, there were also fewer wild bees on the treated rapeseed fields. However, the researchers found no negative effect on colony growth of honeybees.

The study demonstrates the need for new ways to evaluate risks in conjunction with the approval of pesticides.

"If we only investigate how a new pesticide affects honeybees, that is not sufficient to predict the consequences for wild bees in a real landscape," said Maj Rundlöf.

"The results show that it is inappropriate to use clothianidin on rapeseed," said Thorsten Rahbek Pedersen, project manager at the Swedish Board of Agriculture. "We need alternative preparations and new cultivation methods if we are to continue growing spring rapeseed in Sweden."

"We are testing new methods of dealing with flea beetles," said Riccardo Bommarco from the Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences.


Story Source:

Materials provided by Lund University. Note: Content may be edited for style and length.


Journal Reference:

  1. Maj Rundlöf, Georg K. S. Andersson, Riccardo Bommarco, Ingemar Fries, Veronica Hederström, Lina Herbertsson, Ove Jonsson, Björn K. Klatt, Thorsten R. Pedersen, Johanna Yourstone, Henrik G. Smith. Seed coating with a neonicotinoid insecticide negatively affects wild bees. Nature, 2015; DOI: 10.1038/nature14420

Cite This Page:

Lund University. "Pesticide harms wild bees, unique field study shows." ScienceDaily. ScienceDaily, 22 April 2015. <www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2015/04/150422135754.htm>.
Lund University. (2015, April 22). Pesticide harms wild bees, unique field study shows. ScienceDaily. Retrieved March 27, 2024 from www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2015/04/150422135754.htm
Lund University. "Pesticide harms wild bees, unique field study shows." ScienceDaily. www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2015/04/150422135754.htm (accessed March 27, 2024).

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