Abstract
The honey bee is an important part of our food chain, being responsible for approximately 80 percent of the fruits and vegetables we eat via pollination. Honey bees are facing huge declines, some of which are not known, some of which are. One way to help manage this powerful resource it to introduce pesticides that do not increase mortality in the bee population. Biopesticides is one example that seems to have a chance, though they have not always yielded the desired results, and some are more costly than others. It is imperative that we find solutions that not only benefit the honey bee, but also benefit mankind.
Introduction
Have you ever gone to a farmer’s market and bought some fresh strawberries, a few cucumbers, green peppers or some tomatoes? If so, have you ever wondered how the produce you bought came about? The fact is, the honey bee is probably responsible for those fruits or vegetables you just bought. Approximately 80 percent of the food that we eat is a result of pollination. One of the main pollinators is the honey bee, which accounts for about 70 percent of pollinators used in our food supply, and others, such as the bumble bee. There are problems within the honey bee hives, though. The honey bees have been under tremendous pressure from things like colony collapse disorder (CCD), pesticides as well as natural enemies of the bee, such as mites. With all these environmental pressures, the honey bee colonies are in decline. Entomologist still do not have a clear understanding of what causes CCD, but they do know that pesticides are a contributing factor of the honey bee decline. The need to combat the decline of the honey bee is to develop a biopesticide which is ecofriendly and does not harm the honey bee, yet is a deterrent to other common crop pests and safe for humans.
Discussion
The goal of any food producer is to protect the crops and have high yields. However, many factors contribute to the crop production, either beneficial or harmful. Insects, disease and weeds are a few things that contribute to lost crop production, hence the reason pesticides are needed. To better understand biopesticides, this article will look at some of problems of the biopesticides as well as to the future.
In a study conducted by Xavier, et al 2015, they looked at botanical biopesticides that are currently in use in Brazil and were thought safe for honey bees. According to Xavier, et al (2015), “Six botanical insecticides were tested…[which] were the following: andiroba oil, citronella oil, eucalyptus oil, garlic extract, and neem oil…at the concentrations recommended by the manufacture” and were fed to adult honey bees as well as developing larvae. Accordingly, the results of the study concluded “the garlic extract and neem oil induced toxicity to both larvae and adult workers bees. The citronella oil, eucalyptus oil, and rotenone demonstrated toxicity only to adult worker bees, but the andiroba oil was toxic only to larvae” Xavier, et al (2015). These results are in stark contrast to the belief of the survivability from botanical-only biopesticides of adult honey bees and the larvae.
Another way to combat pests is naturally; that is to say to rely on predators of pests and/or introduce predators to a specific crop. Crop rotation also contributes to healthy crops and the reduction of pests. In a study conducted by Biddinger, Leslie, and Josh, they compared the use of pesticides versus a reduced-risk management of crops. Accordingly, “Elimination of organophosphates in the reduced-risk management IPM [integrated pest management] peach program led to a reduction of between 59-79% AI [active ingredients],.. the reduced-risk management IPM programs were significantly higher in costs” Biddinger, Leslies & Josh (2014). This study did not call for an elimination of organophosphates, but “rely on truly selective pesticides.” Though the study concludes that reduced-risk management systems are feasible, they are still dependent on pesticides, are more costly, and may still contribute to the death of the non-target organism, the honey bee.
Other advances have been made in biopesticides, however, which include the mixture of a botanical and certain qualities of living organisms, i.e. the venom of a spider. This is known as a fusion protein technology. To better understand this technology, it is important to note that according to Nakasu, et al (2014), “Fusion protein technology, in which insecticidal peptides are linked to a plant lectin ‘carrier’ protein, has been developed to allow proteins such as spider venom toxins to act as orally delivered biopepticides.” Althogh the spider venom is lethal when injected, it is harmless when ingested through the gut of the honey bee; however, with the infusion of calcium ion channels, it becomes very selective to target pests, thus not affecting the honey bee.
In the above study, exceedingly high amounts of a fusion biopesticide called Hv1a/GNA were fed to the honey bees. The results were that neither the honey bee nor the developing larvae of the honey bee were detrimental. Likewise, the results show that neither learning, memory, or olfactory were impaired.
Conclusion
In our need to have crops that produce high yields, we need the protection from pests and disease from pesticides. However, the main pollinator of these crops, the honey bee, has suffered tremendously. A way in which we can provide the high yield crops and save the honey bee may be in the use of biopesticides. Though not all biopesticides provide the sustainability of both, some used are not cost effective. In order to protect both crops and pollinator, a balance needs to be struck. It seems that advances have been reached to a point where we can have high-yielding crops and save our main pollinators as well. Mankind cannot continue to be naïve when it comes to pesticides, but needs to protect the resources which contribute to a healthy viable food chain, and though we have made advances in this area, we must continue to test feasibility of biopesticides and to fight for the honey bee, least we only want a diet of meal and oats.
References
Biddinger, D. J., Leslie, T. W., & Josh, N. K. (2014, June 1). Reduced-Risk Pest Management Programs for Eastern U.S. Peach Orchards: Effects on Arthropod Predators, Parasitoids, and Select Pests. Retrieved from Journal of Economic Entomology: http://jee.oxfordjournals.org/content/107/3/1084
Nakasu, E., Williamson, S. M., Edwards, M. G., Fitches, E. C., Gatehouse, J. A., Wright, G. A., & Gatehouse, A. M. (2014, March 13). Novel biopesticide based on a spider venom peptide shows no adverse effects on honeybees. Retrieved from The Royal Society Publishing: http://rspb.royalsocietypublishing.org/content/281/1787/20140619
Xavier, V. M., Message, D., Picanco, M. C., Chediak, M., Santana, J. P., Ramos, R. S., & Martins, J. C. (2015). Acute Toxicity and Sublethal Effects of Botanical Insecticides to Honey Bees. Retrieved from Journal of Insect Science: http://jinsectscience.oxfordjournals.org/content/15/1/137
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