A new study shows distinct effects of neonicotinoid pesticide exposure in different bumble bee body parts, explaining why pesticides have diverse harmful effects and highlighting the need for more sensitive safety testing.

The researchers emphasize that these changes, akin to patterns seen in aging and cancer, indicate a profound threat to bee health—affecting every tissue in damaging ways.

“We apply pesticides without fully understanding their effects on beneficial insect pollinators”

This study highlights an urgent need to reevaluate pesticide safety practices to prevent further harm to natural pollinators—species essential for producing the many fruits and nuts we eat and for maintaining biodiversity. It comes at a time when citizens and governments worldwide are increasingly concerned about biodiversity loss, setting ambitious targets for reversing declines and restoring ecosystem health.