Get the latest tech news

More honey bees dying, even as antibiotic use halves


Despite tighter restrictions on antibiotics used in Canadian beekeeping, honey bee death rates are still rising, says study published in Nature Sustainability.

A new study led by University of Guelph researchers, published in Nature Sustainability, is the first large-scale project to assess antibiotic usage trends and their impact on honey bee health in Canada. In addition to antibiotic usage, researchers identified another unexpected predictor of honey bee mortality: nitrogen dioxide (NO2), a common air pollutant from diesel exhaust. “Honey bees epitomize the principles of One Health by serving as a tangible example of the interconnectedness of human, animal and environmental well-being — particularly through their microbiome, which reflects and mediates the impacts of ecological stressors, agricultural practices and disease transmission across systems,” Daisley says.

Get the Android app

Or read this on Hacker News

Read more on:

Photo of honey bees

honey bees

Related news:

News photo

Wing-slapping: A defensive behavior by honey bees against ants