Pesticide causes bees to forget scent-flower connection

There has been a strong link between the decrease in bee population and the use of neonicotinoid pesticides, but a recent scientific study has strengthened that link even further by figuring out how it impacts the bees.

Neonicotinoids are commonly used pesticides, but environmental groups and bee keepers have been pushing for stronger regulation and even the possible banning of the chemicals. Scientists at the University of Dundee in the United Kingdom found that the pesticides blocked part of the brain used for learning and development.

The bees forget or never learn the link between the scents of flowers and nectar. Bees unable to understand that connection would have a difficult time pollinating. This would dramatically reduce not only their overall chances of survival, but also the number of plants being pollinated. Bees are an integral part of many plant's growing cycles.

According to the study, within 20 minute of being exposed to the toxins, the bee brains became affected. Neurons stopped firing in the part of the brain dedicated to learning.

The 27 members of the European are currently debating whether to ban the substances and the world is watching. The United Kingdom has been resistant to the ban and was one of nine of the members that opposed the ban.

The United Kingdom wants more field tests done before making a decision about the pesticide. A separate governmental field study by the UK Department of Environment and Rural Affairs was contaminated and its results thrown into question. There were 20 hives of bees that were meant to be free of the pesticide and control groups, but those hives were contaminated because of the widespread use of the insecticide in the environment.

A ban will be fought tooth and nail by manufacturers that rake in billions of dollars each year from the agricultural, commercial and residential use of the pesticides.

Photo courtesy of digitaltrends.com