Pesticide exposure in pollen is associated with reduced bumble bee colony performance
In short: Researchers observing 316 bumble bee colonies across 106 agricultural sites in eight European countries found that various pesticides present in collected pollen are associated with lower colony performance during crop bloom. This decline was particularly noticeable in simplified landscapes characterized by intensive agricultural practices.
The study highlights how widespread pesticide exposure in agricultural landscapes may impact pollinators beyond just neonicotinoids. By analyzing pollen from colonies of Bombus terrestris, the researchers observed a link between pesticide presence and reduced colony growth, suggesting that current regulatory systems may not sufficiently protect non-target species from environmental damage.
Why it matters: Widespread pesticide exposure in agricultural landscapes may negatively impact the development of essential pollinator colonies.
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Sources
- Source: Research: Nicholson et al. (2023). Pesticide use negatively affects bumble bees across European landscapes. Nature. · cc-by
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