A recent study from the University of Guelph revealed a trend among bumble bee queens: They choose soil contaminated with pesticides over clean soil for hibernation.
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This unexpected behavior has raised concerns about the health and survival of these pollinators.
Researchers Nigel Raine and Sabrina Rondeau conducted field experiments where newly emerged bumblebee queens were given a choice between clean soil and soil contaminated with common pesticides.
Surprisingly, queens were twice as likely to choose soil containing pesticides. Although most of the bees survived the experiment, the study highlights potential risks to bumblebee colonies.
The research, recently published in Science of the Total Environmentsuggests that soil contaminated with pesticides could attract queens, although the reasons remain unclear.
One theory is that pesticides change the properties of the soil, perhaps by eliminating harmful fungi or nematodes, making it more suitable for hibernation. Another possibility is that the queens developed a preference for pesticide-laden environments due to previous exposure.
Further research is needed to understand why bumblebee queens are attracted to contaminated soil and whether these findings apply to other bee species.
Source: Farms.com
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