A study from Georgia Tech shows that the pesticide sulfoxaflor changes gene expression in bumblebees, particularly in reproductive tissues. The findings raise concerns about impacts on bee populations that support one-third of global food production.
Researchers at the Georgia Institute of Technology exposed worker bumblebees to low doses of sulfoxaflor, a pesticide introduced in 2013 for crops such as soybeans and corn. The team analyzed RNA from flash-frozen tissues and found the largest gene activity changes in ovarian tissue.
These molecular shifts could reduce offspring numbers and contribute to population declines, according to the study funded by the U.S. Department of Agriculture. The results appear in the journal Ecotoxicology and Environmental Safety.
"What makes this study exciting is that it connects molecular changes in gene expression to real-world consequences for individual bees and their colonies," said Michael Goodisman, a professor in the School of Biological Sciences.
Sarah Orr, who led the research, noted the need to balance pest control with protection for pollinators. "We need many bees for successful pollination," she said. "If they're not producing enough offspring, pollination will decline."
