Honeybees are vital pollinators that support a third of the global food crop. However, they are facing multiple threats such as pesticide exposure, habitat loss, and infectious diseases that can cause massive die-offs known as colony collapse disorder.
To tackle this problem, researchers have been exploring the use of probiotics to enhance the honeybees' gut microbiota and immunity.
Probiotics protect honeybees from pesticide toxicity
(Photo : AHMAD AL-RUBAYE/AFP via Getty Images)
One of the major challenges for honeybees is exposure to pesticides, especially neonicotinoids, which are widely used in agriculture and can impair the bees' learning, memory, and navigation abilities, as per Yale Environment 360.
In a study published in Scientific Reports in 2017, researchers from Lawson Health Research Institute and Western University showed that probiotics can potentially protect honey bees from the toxic effects of pesticides.
The researchers tested three strains of Lactobacillus bacteria that are naturally found in the honeybee gut and found that they can reduce the mortality of bees exposed to a lethal dose of neonicotinoids by up to 40%.
The probiotics also increased the expression of detoxification genes in the bees, suggesting that they can help the bees metabolize the pesticides more efficiently.
The researchers suggested that probiotics could be easily administered to honeybees by mixing them with sugar water or pollen patties, which are commonly used by beekeepers to feed their hives.
They also noted that probiotics could have other benefits for honeybees, such as improving their digestion, nutrient absorption, and resistance to pathogens.
Also Read: Probiotics Associated with Lower Risk of Antibiotics-Induced Diarrhea
Probiotics improve honeybee health in field conditions
While the previous study demonstrated the efficacy of probiotics in laboratory settings, a more recent study published in the ISME Journal showed that probiotics can also positively influence honeybee health in field conditions, as per Phys.org.
This was the largest field study of its kind to date, involving large commercial apiaries in California.
The researchers used two methods to deliver probiotics to hives: a probiotic pollen patty and a spray-based delivery system.
They then monitored the hives for various health indicators, such as colony size, brood development, pathogen load, and gene expression. They found that both methods of probiotic supplementation resulted in a range of health benefits for the hives, such as:
- Increased colony size and brood production
- Reduced prevalence and severity of American foulbrood, a bacterial disease that can kill larvae
- Reduced levels of deformed wing virus, a viral disease that can impair flight and lifespan
- Enhanced expression of immune genes and antioxidant genes
The researchers concluded that probiotics can be used as a viable alternative to antibiotics, which are often used by beekeepers to prevent infectious diseases but can have negative side effects such as resistance development and harm to beneficial microbes.
They also emphasized that probiotics are designed to enhance the honeybees' core gut microbiota, which is essential for their digestion, nutrition, and symbiosis.
Probiotics are promising tools to improve honeybee health and survival in the face of multiple stressors.
By delivering beneficial bacteria to the honeybees' gut, probiotics can help them detoxify pesticides, fight off pathogens, and maintain overall hive health.
Probiotics could also be easily integrated into beekeeping practices using different delivery methods.
Further research is needed to optimize the probiotic formulations and dosages for different environmental conditions and bee populations.
Related article: Liver Cancer Diagnosis Now Possible with Probiotics?
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