Honey bees 'addiction' pesticides?

According to a study published in the April 4 issue of Nature (Nature), like nicotine for humans, pesticides also seem to be "addictive" to bees. Winged insects often search for food contaminated with pesticides, even harmful to them.

British scientists discovered "addicted" honey bees

Through monitoring the behavior of hundreds of bees and thousands of honey bees, scientists from the University of Newcastle (UK) found that not only bees did not avoid the food that absorbed the neonicotinoid in pesticides, but they also seem quite interested in this addictive substance.

Bees have an important role in agriculture.(Source: miriadna.com)

Moreover, they also like to eat pesticides contaminated with neonicotinoid. This substance is synthesized in a laboratory based on the chemical structure of nicotine and is often widely used to preserve seeds from harmful pests, as well as containing stimulants for these nuts to grow, for bumper crops.

However, another study by Swedish scientists provides evidence that the potential risk that neonicotinoid may cause harm to some bees. This is because the compound contains 3 harmful substances including clothianidin, imidacloprid and thiamethoxam.

By sowing 8 seed beds that have been processed through clothianidin and 8 other unprocessed beds, scientists found that most of the species of bees that fly through the treated area cannot grow, contrary to the results obtained from bees flying through beds without this substance. Meanwhile, honey bees are not affected by clothianidin.

Previously, a study of neonicotinoid showed that it could affect memory ability, detrimental to survival function, as well as bee pollination ability.

In recent years, bees in Europe, North America and some other areas have also been significantly affected by a phenomenon called 'disturbance of the herd structure. 'This phenomenon is said to be caused by ticks, a virus or fungus, insecticide or all these factors.

Bees currently pollinate up to 80% of the total number of insect-pollinated plants, benefiting the world at least about $ 153 billion a year. However, because scientists, environmentalists and agrochemical producers have not yet determined the safety of neonicotinoids for bees, the European Commission (EC) has temporarily restricted it. Planting plants that attract this insect within two years from December 1, 2013. /.