Glyphosate harms honeybees' brains and foraging skills

Topic: Biology

A study found that glyphosate, a common weedkiller, can harm honeybees' brains and reduce their ability to forage for food. Researchers from Virginia Tech led by Associate Professor Margaret Couvillon studied the effects of glyphosate on honeybee behavior and brain chemistry.

Glyphosate is a widely used herbicide that kills weeds by blocking an enzyme involved in photosynthesis. However, it can also harm beneficial insects like pollinators. A study published in the Journal of Experimental Biology found that exposure to glyphosate can disrupt the brains of honeybees and reduce their ability to forage for food.

The researchers created two artificial feeding stations with and without glyphosate. They trained honeybees to visit the feeders and monitored their behavior over several days. After only three days, the bees exposed to glyphosate showed a 13 percent decline in foraging activity. The study also found that glyphosate exposure can cause changes in brain chemistry, including shifts in amino acids and neurotransmitters.

The researchers say that these sublethal effects can be compared to the way an over-the-counter antihistamine may relieve allergy symptoms while also causing drowsiness. They warn that a 13 percent reduction in foraging activity can be consequential for a colony, leading to decreased pollination effectiveness and reduced honey production.

The study raises broader questions about how herbicides should be used in places where bees are likely to feed. The researchers say improved regulation, more careful application strategies, and additional research will be important for reducing unintended harm to pollinators.

Why It Matters

This study is important because honeybees play a crucial role in India's agriculture and food production. If glyphosate harms their brains and foraging skills, it can have significant impacts on crop yields and food security.

Key Facts

• Glyphosate is the active ingredient in many weedkillers used in farming and landscaping.
• The study found that exposure to glyphosate can disrupt the brains of honeybees and reduce their ability to forage for food.
• A 13 percent reduction in foraging activity can be consequential for a colony, leading to decreased pollination effectiveness and reduced honey production.
• The researchers say improved regulation, more careful application strategies, and additional research will be important for reducing unintended harm to pollinators.
• Honeybees play a crucial role in India's agriculture and food production.

Key Terms

Glyphosate

A widely used herbicide that kills weeds by blocking an enzyme involved in photosynthesis.

Sublethal effects

Effects of exposure to a substance that are not immediately fatal but can still cause harm.

Implications

This study is important because honeybees play a crucial role in India's agriculture and food production. If glyphosate harms their brains and foraging skills, it can have significant impacts on crop yields and food security.