“Even though Hv1a/GNA has potential as a safe pesticide alternative to neonicotinoid, colony collapse disorder is a complex dilemma, requiring a multi-pronged approach to correct.” – C Wright

Good news on the honeybee front — a team of scientists in the UK have created a biopesticide made from spider venom and plant protein that may provide hope for the endangered pollinators.

A study published in the research journal Proceedings of the Royal Society B [PDF] states that the experimental, nontoxic biopesticide Hv1a/GNA is “unlikely to cause detrimental effects on honeybees.”

The insects were exposed to assorted levels of Hv1a/GNA for over a week and were only mildly affected. The substance did not have any measurable influence on the bees’ calcium channels, which are associated with learning and memory — an important factor because bees need to memorize routes to food and communicate it to the colony. And since developing honeybees were able to break down the substance during digestion, it did not have an impact on larvae.

A silver bullet solution for bee colony collapse?

For almost two decades, the world has been experiencing a mass die-off of honeybees — a full third of commercial beehives, which equates to over a million colonies each year. Classified as one of the biggest threats to our food supply by the USDA bee and pollination program, the cause of this mysterious syndrome was unknown up until recently. Four studies have shown that a major player in colony collapse turns out to be a class of pesticides called neonicotinoids.

Reuters journalist Richard Schiffman reported, Continue reading →