Bees play a vital role in the pollination of crops and wildflowers. However, in recent years, honey bee populations have been declining worldwide. This is because bees are regularly exposed to various agrochemicals such as herbicides, fungicides, acaricides, and, most importantly, insecticides, which, together with other factors such as parasites and nutritional deficiencies, have had a devastating effect on bees. The overuse of pesticides is considered one of the key factors contributing to the decline in honey bee populations. It is, therefore, vital to study the adverse effects of agrochemicals on bees.
Bees are very vulnerable to agrochemical stress because they have a limited number of detoxifying enzymes compared to other insects. Even if agrochemicals do not cause the immediate death of bees, they may have sub-lethal effects on them, such as disrupting their forging ability and making it more difficult for them to return to the colony, or they may bring agrochemicals back with them, weakening or even causing territorial mortality. Thorough mechanistic studies characterizing the effects of agrochemicals (either alone or in combination with multiple stressors such as parasites, pathogens, or nutrition) on honey bee health are therefore necessary to understand the factors driving honey bee decline and to guide potential management strategies.
The current Research Topic aims to gain insight into the adverse impacts of agrochemicals on bee health. Therefore, all relevant research articles and review papers are welcome. Areas to be covered in this Research Topic may include, but are not limited to: The effects of agrochemicals or combining other stressors (parasites, pathogens, or nutrition) on bee physiology, behaviors, and colony health.
Bees play a vital role in the pollination of crops and wildflowers. However, in recent years, honey bee populations have been declining worldwide. This is because bees are regularly exposed to various agrochemicals such as herbicides, fungicides, acaricides, and, most importantly, insecticides, which, together with other factors such as parasites and nutritional deficiencies, have had a devastating effect on bees. The overuse of pesticides is considered one of the key factors contributing to the decline in honey bee populations. It is, therefore, vital to study the adverse effects of agrochemicals on bees.
Bees are very vulnerable to agrochemical stress because they have a limited number of detoxifying enzymes compared to other insects. Even if agrochemicals do not cause the immediate death of bees, they may have sub-lethal effects on them, such as disrupting their forging ability and making it more difficult for them to return to the colony, or they may bring agrochemicals back with them, weakening or even causing territorial mortality. Thorough mechanistic studies characterizing the effects of agrochemicals (either alone or in combination with multiple stressors such as parasites, pathogens, or nutrition) on honey bee health are therefore necessary to understand the factors driving honey bee decline and to guide potential management strategies.
The current Research Topic aims to gain insight into the adverse impacts of agrochemicals on bee health. Therefore, all relevant research articles and review papers are welcome. Areas to be covered in this Research Topic may include, but are not limited to: The effects of agrochemicals or combining other stressors (parasites, pathogens, or nutrition) on bee physiology, behaviors, and colony health.