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Pesticide News

Writer's picture: Pollinator Stewardship CouncilPollinator Stewardship Council

Updated: Nov 27, 2024


Cicada on A Tree

A University of Wisconsin-Madison researcher is using past cicada events to understand the lasting effects of pesticides on human health.  Female cicadas harm trees by laying eggs in branches, prompting heavy pesticide use by farmers in the early 20th century.  Collaborating with a colleague from Austin Peay State University, they analyzed census data from apple-producing counties during cicada emergences to gauge pesticide exposure effects.  Men born in these counties during cicada years lived approximately 2 months less than those born in non-cicada years.  Those with direct farm exposure face a reduction of nearly a year, and findings suggest long-term health impacts from early pesticide exposure.  Read the full study here.


Mining Bee

Mounting evidence supporting the harmful effects of neonicotinoids on bees has led to the development of 'bee-friendly' insecticides like flupyradifurone (FPF).  However, current risk assessments overlook specific exposure routes for wild bees, such as contact with soil residues.  A study investigating chronic exposure to FPF and a fungicide (Quadris Top) on squash bees found that the bees collected less pollen per flower visit, co-exposure induced hyperactivity in female bees and reduced offspring emergence– highlighting the adverse impacts of 'low-toxicity' pesticides on wild bee populations, even when used alone or in combination.  Read the full study here.


Bumblebee flying past Coneflower

A recent study investigated whether bumblebees could detect and avoid drinking pesticide-laced sugar solutions.  By recording neuronal responses in taste sensilla and observing feeding behavior, researchers found that bumblebees' taste receptors did not distinguish between sugar solutions and those containing pesticides, leading them to consume similar amounts regardless of pesticide presence, even at levels harmful to their health.  These findings suggest that bumblebees cannot use taste to avoid pesticide exposure, highlighting potential risks in real-world foraging scenarios. Additionally, while bumblebees showed avoidance behavior to bitter compounds like quinine, their ingestion of sugar solution was not significantly affected, indicating a limitation in their ability to avoid harmful substances solely through taste perception. Read the full study here.

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