Fipronil, imidacloprid reduce honeybee mitochondrial activity

Fipronil, imidacloprid reduce honeybee mitochondrial activity

New research published in Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry addresses the effects of two broad-spectrum systemic insecticides, fipornil and imidacloprid, on honeybees. These insecticides are widely used in agriculture, and the authors conclude that fipronil and imidacloprid are inhibitors of mitochondrial bioenergetics, resulting in depleted cell energy. This action can explain the toxicity of these compounds for honeybees.

Scientists are urgently trying to determine the causes of colony collapse disorder and the alarming population declines of honeybees. The cross-pollination services they provide are required by approximately 80 percent of all flowering plants, and 1/3 of all agricultural food production directly depends on bee pollination. As a result, there has been a flurry of research on honeybee parasitic mite infestations, viral diseases, and the direct and indirect impacts of pesticides.

The effects of pirazoles (e.g., fipronil) and neonicotinoids (e.g., imidacloprid) on the nervous system are fairly well documented. Daniel Nicodemo, professor of ecology and beekeeping at the Universidade Estadual Paulista in Dracena, Brazil, and lead author of the study states, "These insecticides affect the nervous system of pest and beneficial insects,ften killing them. Sublethal effects related to insect behavior have been described in other studies; even a few nanograms of active ingredient disturbed the sense of taste, olfactory learning and motor activity of the bees."

A key characteristic of colony collapse disorder is the incapacity of the honey bees to return to their hives, and these disruptions have a direct impact on that ability.

In this study, Nicodemo et al. looked at the effects of fipronil and imidacloprid on the bioenergetics functioning of mitochondria isolated from the heads and thoraces of Africanized honeybees. Mitochondria are the power plants of a cell, generating most of a cell's supply of adenosine triphosphate (ATP), used as a source of chemical energy.

Honeybee flight muscles are strongly dependent on high levels of oxygen consumption and energy metabolism. Mitochondrial oxidative phosphorylation drives ATP synthesis, which is required to contract the muscles during flight. "If something goes wrong, the energy production is impaired," explains Nicodemo. "Similar to a plane, honeybees require clean fuel in order to fly."

Studies keep showing that the pesticides we are using are harming bees & yet I don't think anything will be done about it. People are more worried about the rest of the pests that if it kills off bees, oh well, one last pest to deal with.

Even a few nanograms of the active ingredient is enough to harm bees, yet alone larger doses.

I guess this is where the Monstanto bee will come in place, at least I thought I recalled someone saying they will be making a bee.

Each step on this road to truth has taken so long as Nature has fewer legal and scientific resources to fight against Bayer Cropsci, Syngenta, and Monsanto... Future system structures will have to even the playing field to assure safety to those eco systems which Humans rely on for their very existence.

The chemical companies are destroying the environment more than any other industry. The medicines we excrete from our bodies go into the sewer and aren't taken out by the filtration plants very well.The destruction of our environment has been speeding up a lot over the last decade, even though we don't see it. We sent a lot of it to China and other third world country thinking it won't bother us but we were wrong.

originally posted by: rickymouse
The chemical companies are destroying the environment more than any other industry. The medicines we excrete from our bodies go into the sewer and aren't taken out by the filtration plants very well.The destruction of our environment has been speeding up a lot over the last decade, even though we don't see it. We sent a lot of it to China and other third world country thinking it won't bother us but we were wrong.

I think we are seeing the destruction, it's just being ignored by the higher ups who in turn keep us distracted from it.

I was at my Mom's yesterday & they were showing footage from the big spill in B.C (Mount Polley Mine) and it was so depressing. Thinking about the fungi & insects that are being destroyed on top of the larger animals that are being effected, it's really disheartening to see. Tell me again why pipelines are safe & it's safe to transport them on trains?? ((I know this is from a Mine but it's still toxic gunk that has been spilled into nature that is causing devastation))

a reply to: knoledgeispower

Actually I should have said Alchemy, because that includes the processing of metals and also the conversion of oils to fuels.

a reply to: rickymouse

pretty much everything we do is screwing the Earth. Even recycling does damage because it can have a huge carbon footprint.

We just need to be more careful with what we are doing & try to get better things set up in the future

a reply to: knoledgeispower
We do not have to go crazy environmentalist. All we have to do is examine what we do and ask ourselves do we need to really do this. Is there something less invasive to the environment. Most times this should actually save us money. Going out to the local beach or friends camp and having a picnic is a lot better than flying to Florida and taking a cruise. I mean better for us and also better for the environment. Now, it is not better for the airlines or the owners and workers of the cruise ships.

I would not want to take a cruise on one of those cruise ships. Packed in a tin can like sardines, ready for the bacteria someone carries to start munching on you. We have been conditioned to think that is fun. Go to a local motel and swim in the pool and support your own people, those in your community.

It is strange, people will travel far to see something but do not even go to their own tourist attractions. They will travel to Cancun to go to the beach yet will not go to the local beach. I can see if you live in a big city where all the lakes and rivers stink of polution, but people here do that, they ignore the local beauty and want something different. No wonder marriages don't last.

Why are the lakes and rivers polluted? Because we caused it most times. Trash where you live then spend the leftover money you make to go somewhere else that is not polluted so you can cause that to be trashed also.

All we have to do to start is start watching what we all do. Don't buy soaps and beauty products that are bad for the environment. Wash your car one less time per month, or in my case, one less time per year. Just because there is water available does not mean we have to waste it. Just because they make bad chemicals does not mean we have to use them. The government requires some bad chemicals to be used, so do big businesses to make sure their product stays fresh longer. I see the need for some of these things, but the availability of some unnecessary ones should be curbed. Knowing the government, they will allow the bad ones where the chemical companies are good contributors and outlaw things like spic and span.