These days, growing fields without pesticides
seems to be impossible. Besides their negative effects on the environment,
insecticides destroy the capabilities of honey bees; thus, it becomes impossible
for them to collect foods for their survival (Boily et al. 2013). It should be noticed that honey
bees act as primary pollinators of crops, but the unwise use of insecticides can
decrease the yield of cross-pollinated crops and destroy honey bee communities (Rabea
Smith et al. 2009).
Studies reveal that all pesticides are dangerous
for honey bee populations and can cause their immediate death too. However,
several insecticides do not create any problem for adult honey bees. The
excessive use of insecticides is primarily dangerous for immature and young
bees (Flottum, 2014). Two commonly used insecticides are coumaphos and
neonicotinoids. These can target the brain of honey bees, making it impossible
for them to perform their functions (Boily et al. 2013). The combination of coumaphos and neonicotinoids can
destroy the crops and kill honey bees instantly (Park et al. 2014).
The neonicotinoids are least dangerous than
coumaphos, and these insecticides primarily affect the central nervous system
of honey bees (Rabea Smith
et al. 2009). They are widely used in the United States and can impact pollens
and nectars within a matter of seconds (Suryanarayanan & Kleinman, 2017). In
short, we can say that abiotic factors can drastically affect honey bees. When
these chemicals are used on blooming crops, they contaminate them entirely and
cause problems for immature and adult honey bees. That’s why various
insecticide labels prohibit the excessive use of insecticides. Their regular
and consistent use is always prohibited by the government itself (Mahindru,
2014).
Work Cited:
Mahindru, S. N.
(2014). Beekeeping. New Delhi: APH Pub.
Flottum, K. (2014). The
backyard beekeeper: An absolute beginners guide to keeping bees in your yard
and garden. Beverly, MA: Quarry Books.
Park, M. G., Danforth, B.
N., & Losey, J. E. (2014). Importance, drivers and conservation of
wild bees for apple pollination.
Suryanarayanan, S., &
Kleinman, D. L. (2017). Vanishing bees: Science, politics, and honeybee
health. New Brunswick, NJ: Rutgers University Press.
Boily, M., Sarrasin, B.,
Deblois, C., Aras, P., & Chagnon, M. (2013). Acetylcholinesterase in honey
bees (Apis mellifera) exposed to neonicotinoids, atrazine and glyphosate:
Laboratory and field experiments. Environmental Science and Pollution
Research, 20(8), 5603-5614. doi:10.1007/s11356-013-1568-2
Rabea, E. I., Nasr, H. M.,
& Badawy, M. E. (2009). Toxic Effect and Biochemical Study of
Chlorfluazuron, Oxymatrine, and Spinosad on Honey Bees (Apis mellifera). Archives
of Environmental Contamination and Toxicology, 58(3), 722-732.
doi:10.1007/s00244-009-9403-y
