Discovery of a 'defensive mechanism' in honeybee queens to eliminate pesticide residues

A recent study conducted by researchers from the University of California in the United States revealed that honeybee queens may eliminate a portion of the pesticides accumulated in their bodies by transferring them to their eggs, a defensive mechanism previously unknown, though it may expose the next generation to health risks. The Syrian News Agency (SANA) cited the official website of the University of California, stating that the study, whose results were published in the journal Current Biology, showed that prolonged exposure of honeybee queens to pesticides leads to the accumulation of certain substances in their bodies before they are transferred to the eggs in a process known as “maternal elimination of toxic burden.” The study clarified that worker bees typically serve as the first line of defense against pollutants within the hive, filtering out harmful substances before they reach the queen and the larvae. However, the workers’ ability to remove pesticides may decline with continued exposure. The results showed that on the first day, worker bees managed to filter out approximately 95% of the pesticides and transfer them to the honeycomb, but this rate dropped to about 86% by the tenth day, suggesting the possibility of pollutant accumulation within the hive with ongoing exposure.