The world wouldn’t be the same without bees, and not only because there wouldn’t be any honey to put in our tea. Bees are primarily responsible for pollinating one-third of the food humans consume each day.
Food supplies, industries and national economies are all dependent on the survival of our six-legged friends.
However, new research from the University of Texas at Austin shows that we are killing bees by using popular weed killers.
When bees are exposed to glyphosate, the active ingredient in weed killers like Roundup, they lose good gut bacteria needed to fight off harmful bacteria that can cause infection and death.
The researchers expect that exposure to glyphosate could be contributing to the decline of bee species around the world, including the honeymakers.
Glyphosate has long been believed to only interfere with an enzyme found in plants and microorganisms, so people have felt safe using it in their yards even if they have pets or children.
“We need better guidelines for glyphosate use, especially regarding bee exposure, because right now the guidelines assume bees are not harmed by the herbicide,” Erick Motta, a graduate student at UT Austin and co-leader of the research, said in a statement.
“Our study shows that’s not true,” he continued.
The study
During the study, the researchers exposed honey bees to a similar amount of glyphosate that is expected to be in yards, crop fields and roadsides.
After three days of exposure, the researchers found significant reductions of healthy gut microbiota. Four of the eight bacterias typically found in the guts of healthy bees were significantly reduced.
“Studies in humans, bees and other animals have shown that the gut microbiome is a stable community that resists infection by opportunistic invaders,” Nancy Moran, a professor of integrative biology at UT Austin and co-leader of the research, said in a statement.
“So if you disrupt the normal, stable community, you are more susceptible to this invasion of pathogens,” she continued.
What can be done?
For years now, U.S. beekeepers have been noticing a decline in their bee populations. This phenomenon has become known as colony collapse disorder.
Farmers and others have blamed habitat loss, bacterial infections and exposure to pesticides or antibiotics for their lack of pollinators. This new study adds herbicides to that list.
The researchers urge farmers, homeowners and landscapers to avoid using glyphosate-based herbicides on flowering plants that bees will likely want to pollinate.
“It’s not the only thing causing all these bee deaths, but it is definitely something people should worry about because glyphosate is used everywhere,” Motta said in a statement.
