Pesticide exposure linked to reproductive changes in bumblebees
Georgia Tech researchers found low doses of sulfoxaflor altered gene activity in bumblebee ovarian tissue, raising concerns for pollination.
By Lucas Ferreira · Science & Environment Writer
3 min read
A pesticide used to protect crops from sap-feeding insects may disrupt reproduction in bumblebees, according to researchers at the Georgia Institute of Technology. The finding matters because pollinators such as bees support about one-third of global food production, according to Georgia Tech.
The study, funded by the U.S. Department of Agriculture, examined how low-dose exposure to sulfoxaflor affected worker bumblebees. Georgia Tech said researchers found changes in gene activity, with the strongest effects appearing in ovarian tissue, a result that points to possible interference with reproductive processes.
Sulfoxaflor was introduced in 2013 as a newer pesticide aimed at pests such as aphids on crops including soybeans and corn, according to Georgia Tech. The chemical is effective against target insects, but it is also known to be toxic to bees, the institute said.
Gene changes tied to reproduction
The research team exposed worker bumblebees to low levels of sulfoxaflor and then studied gene expression in their tissues. Georgia Tech said the scientists flash froze bee tissues and analyzed RNA to track which genes became more or less active after exposure.
The largest shifts were found in ovarian tissue, according to the researchers. They said those molecular changes could reduce offspring production and, over time, add pressure to bee populations.
The team also used computational models to identify biological systems most affected by sulfoxaflor, Georgia Tech said. Michael Goodisman, a professor in the School of Biological Sciences, said the work links changes in gene expression with possible effects on individual bees and colonies, giving researchers a clearer view of how pesticides affect bees.
The study was published in Ecotoxicology and Environmental Safety under the title “Integrative assessment of sulfoxaflor effects on gene expression, reproduction, and behavior in the bumblebee Bombus impatiens.” The authors include Michael A. Catto, Jixiang Xu, Kayla A. Murray, Emma Leigh M. Bossard, Michael A.D. Goodisman and Sarah E. Orr.
Farm needs and pollinator risks
Georgia Tech framed the results as part of a broader challenge in agriculture: controlling crop pests while limiting harm to insects that help crops reproduce. Pesticides can help farmers protect yields, but some products may also affect pollinators that food systems rely on, the institute said.
Sarah Orr, who led the work as a Georgia Tech postdoctoral fellow and is now an assistant professor at the University of Tampa, said scientists need practical ways to support pest control while protecting beneficial insects. Orr also said pollination depends on maintaining enough bees, and that lower offspring production could weaken pollination.
Bumblebees face other pressures as well. Georgia Tech said rising temperatures and more frequent heatwaves are adding stress to pollinator populations, alongside pesticide exposure and other environmental threats.
The researchers said understanding how chemicals such as sulfoxaflor affect bee biology could help shape farming practices that protect crops and pollinators. Their work adds molecular evidence to concerns that low-level pesticide exposure may have longer-term effects beyond immediate toxicity.
This story draws on original reporting from ScienceDaily.