[Science] Nicotine and Caffeine May Extend the Life of Bees

[lioneatszebra]

Nicotine and Caffeine May Extend the Life of Bees
From West Texas News

The human vices nicotine and coffee are generally toxic for our tiny pollinator friends but there are many bird species that intentionally consume such poisons to kill off intestinal parasites, as such toxins in small concentrations could really help in the protection of the hives from CCD.

Colony Collapse Disorder (CCD) is a major issue for environment experts. CCD is generally witnessed when the wintering bees do not have enough energy to make it through. Instead they wake up in the middle of the harsh season and believe that it is the time to go out and work. Thus, they leave their nest to succumb to the harsh conditions.

CCD at first was identified as the main cause for mass decline among honeybees in 2006. Later on, the experts gave a confirmation that the widespread use of pesticides known as neonicotinoids (neonics), were polluting the fuel that these bees used in order to hibernate, prompting CCD.

In the US, the bee populations are facing a delay in the recovery due to the parasitic mites like Asia's invasive N. ceranae and disease like American Foulbrood.

In the previous studies, the researchers have found that breeding bees for cleanliness or even introducing specialized microbes can be helpful in fighting infestations. Now, a latest study has argued that the plants with caffeine and nicotine components can also prove helpful.

Researcher Lynn Adler has recently explained that intake of some of these compounds has reduced pathogen load in the bumble bee's gut. He added that most probably it not only helped the individual bees, but has also reduced the pathogen Crithidia spore load in their feces, which in turn should decrease the likelihood of transmission of the disease to other bees.

In the study, the researchers identified eight toxic compounds in all that can be medicinally used by bees. Adler added, "The more we look, the more we see that these compounds are in nectar and pollen".