In recent
studies of male
honeybees it is shown that two insecticides can drastically reduce the male's ability to reproduce due to a reduction in the living sperm. These two chemicals, thiamethoxam and clothianidin, that are banned in some nations are responsible for a 40 percent reduction of sperm. The insecticide exposure is immediate. This male reproductive issue is responsible for a decline in the honeybee population. For example, bee keepers in the United States have lost 44 percent of their honeybee colonies. The decline in bees is a bigger problem than it seems as many plants that require bee pollination are the basis of the world's food supply which poses an ecological danger. Studies are being done to investigate the other stressors that can affect a honeybee's health other than pesticides in order to help increase population growth.
Im not a fan of bees but i am aware of how detrimental they are to the environment so i do hope that with this new research, they will find a way to increase sperm production for future generations of bees!
ReplyDeleteIt is awful that these chemicals are banned and they are still being used, hopefully there will be a solution that will help increase the sperm production in bees.
ReplyDeleteIt never seizes to amaze me that such a tiny organism can impact the world ecologically. They need to find an alternative to these insecticides that doesnt harm the honeybees.
ReplyDeleteThis is considered a dire problem in many ecology circles. No bees= no plants= no food= no bueno. It urgently needs to be addressed. I have to question whether or not this would have happened if farmers could use genetically modified crops instead of pesticides.
ReplyDeleteThis is considered a dire problem in many ecology circles. No bees= no plants= no food= no bueno. It urgently needs to be addressed. I have to question whether or not this would have happened if farmers could use genetically modified crops instead of pesticides.
ReplyDelete