New research suggests that using an omega-3 rich oil called “ahiflower oil” can prevent damage to honey bee mitochondria caused by neonicotinoid pesticides. This research is part of an ongoing Ph.D. student Hichem Menail at the Université de Moncton in New Brunswick, Canada. The research will be presented at the SEB Centenary Conference 2023, in Edinburgh, UK.
“Pesticides are a major threat to insect populations and since insects are at the core of the richness and balance of ecosystems, any loss of insect biodiversity can lead to catastrophic results,” said Mr. concern for food crops worldwide.
Imidacloprid, a neonicotinoid pesticide, is one of the most commonly used insecticides in the world. Imidacloprid was banned for use outside the EU in 2018, along with two other major neonicotinoids, but its use continues around the world, including in the United States of America.
“Neonicotinoids are one of the most toxic and most harmful insecticides. They are widely used and very persistent in the environment. Therefore, it is almost impossible to prevent honey bees from being exposed and eventually poisoned,” said Mr. Menail. “A more convenient strategy is to improve the immune system and the metabolism of honey bees to allow them to overcome this chemical intoxication.”
To examine the effects of an omega-3 rich oil on long-term exposure to a neonicotinoid pesticide, three groups of bees were fed sucrose syrup containing only the pesticide, ahiflower oil that alone, or both combined. After 25 days of feeding these foods, Mr. Menail and his team measured mitochondrial respiration in bees.
“First, our results confirm our hypothesis about the inhibitory effect of imidacloprid on mitochondrial respiration,” said Mr. Menail. “What is exciting and somehow surprising is the immediate beneficial effect of ahiflower oil on mitochondrial respiration. Honey bees fed with imidacloprid and ahiflower oil together have some of their rates of breathing recovered to the same level as the controls.”
Applications for these findings include possible food supplements that will ultimately help reduce honey bee mortality caused by pesticides. “We believe this strategy is promising,” said Mr. Menail. “By improving their respiration through ahiflower oil supplementation, we believe that mitochondria can increase their ATP production and thus improve the overall performance of honey bees, as well as their immune system.”
Presented by the Society for Experimental Biology
Citation: Omega-3 oil prevents toxic effects of pesticides on pollinators, research suggests (2023, July 4) retrieved 4 July 2023 from https://phys.org/news/2023-07- omega-oil-counteracts-toxic-effects. html
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