Omega-3 wealthy oil can prevent damage to honey bee mitochondria attributable to pesticides

Latest research suggests that the usage of an omega-3 wealthy oil called “ahiflower oil” can prevent damage to honey bee mitochondria attributable to neonicotinoid pesticides. This research is an element of an ongoing project by PhD student Hichem Menail of the Université de Moncton in Latest Brunswick, Canada.

“Pesticides are a serious threat to insect populations and as insects are on the core of ecosystem richness and balance, any loss in insect biodiversity can result in catastrophic consequence,” says Mr Menail, adding that pesticide-related pollinator declines are also an enormous concern for food crops globally.

Imidacloprid, a neonicotinoid pesticide, is certainly one of the world’s mostly used insecticides. Imidacloprid was banned for outdoor use by the EU in 2018, together with two other major neonicotinoids, but their use continues world wide, including the US of America.

Neonicotinoids are amongst probably the most toxic and probably the most harmful insecticides. They’re used extensively and are very persistent within the environment. Thus, it’s practically not possible to forestall honey bees from being exposed and eventually poisoned. A more convenient strategy is to spice up the immune system and the metabolism of honey bees to permit them to beat this chemical intoxication.”

Mr. Hichem Menail, PhD student, Université de Moncton in Latest Brunswick, Canada

To analyze the consequences of an omega-3 wealthy oil on long-term exposure to a neonicotinoid pesticide, three groups of bees were fed sucrose syrup that contained either the pesticide alone, the ahiflower oil alone, or each combined. After 25 days of feeding on these diets, Mr Menail and his team measured the bees’ mitochondrial respiration.

“First, our results confirmed our hypothesis in regards to the hampering effect of imidacloprid on mitochondrial respiration,” says Mr Menail. “What was exciting and in some way surprising is the immediate useful effect ofahiflower oil on mitochondrial respiration. Honey bees fed with imidacloprid and ahiflower oil concurrently had a few of their respiration rates get better to the identical level than the controls.”

The applications for these findings include possible food supplements that might ultimately help to diminish honey bee mortalities attributable to pesticides. “We consider that this strategy is promising,” says Mr Menail. “By improving their respiration through ahiflower oil supplementation, we believethat mitochondria can increase their ATP production and thus improve overall performance of honey bees, in addition to their immune system.”