Pesticides linked to sharp decline in wild bee populations, study finds

The increasing use of specific pesticides is significantly reducing the populations of wild bees across the U.S., according to a new study in Nature Sustainability.

Sharon Udasin reports for The Hill.

In short:

• Two pesticides, neonicotinoid and pyrethroid, are causing a 43.3% decline in wild bee species' presence in certain areas.
• Researchers analyzed over 200,000 observations of more than 1,000 bee species to assess pesticide impact.
• The study advocates for alternative pest control methods to protect wild bee populations.

Key quote:

“More data and analysis on the long-term effects of pesticides will help guide these efforts to the benefit of all pollinators, including wild bees.”

— Laura Melissa Guzman, assistant professor of biological sciences at the University of Southern California

Why this matters:

Wild bees are vital pollinators in ecosystems and agriculture. The decline of these species threatens biodiversity and food security, making it urgent to reconsider pesticide use.

Related EHN coverage:

• Active ingredient in Monsanto’s Roundup hurts honey bee guts
• Pesticides are becoming increasingly toxic for the world's most important insects
• Dow wants to bolster use of a pesticide shown to hurt bees’ reproduction