The Holocaust of Bees
Pesticides are frequently used throughout industrial agriculture to control invertebrate pests, disease-causing organisms, and weeds. However, various types of pesticides, such as insecticides, fungicides, and herbicides, can have negative effects on all beneficial insects, especially pollinators. These substances can lead to the depletion of floral resources and can also have detrimental effects on bees' reproductive ability, navigational abilities, and memory.
Neonicotinoids, one of the poisons used in insect control, are insecticides that specifically target the nervous systems of insects. These poisons affect insects beyond their target area, causing significant damage to the entire ecosystem. Non-target insect deaths lead to the extinction of beneficial pests' natural enemies. Furthermore, the sudden collapse of bee populations, which carry a significant portion of the pollination burden, poses a serious threat to our future food security.
How Pesticides Spread in Nature
Insects can be exposed to pesticides in various ways, such as by contacting spray residue left on plants, consuming contaminated pollen and nectar, or interacting with contaminated nesting areas and materials. While animals in the area while fields are being sprayed can poison animals through direct contact, animals that come into contact with the residue are also exposed to the toxins. Furthermore, nests in the area, or toxic materials transported to build nests, permanently entrap insects in the toxic cycle. Furthermore, pesticides are directly released into the air and water during application. More than 90% of pollen samples from beehives and stream water samples collected on agricultural lands have been found to contain more than one pesticide.
Studies show that pesticide use has caused significant declines in bird and fish populations. For example, exposure of deer to neonicotinoid pesticides in utero can lead to birth defects and increased mortality in offspring. These chemicals have been reported to increase the risk of neurodevelopmental disorders and congenital abnormalities in all animals, including humans. These toxins, once circulating in the ecosystem, accumulate throughout the nutritional cycle.
All Life is Interconnected
The lives of all living things in the ecosystem depend on each other. While pesticides are inherently harmful to all nature, excessive, reckless application and the use of prohibited species exacerbate the danger. Pollination, essential for fruit and seed production in agriculture and nature, faces significant risks. The damage caused by pesticide use to insects causes significant problems in the production of agricultural food, on which our lives depend, and poses mortal threats to the survival of human society. However, the efforts of various institutions and associations and increased consumption awareness over the years have led to improvements in the use of such poisons and paved the way for legally opting for less harmful pesticides that decompose in nature with minimal time and damage. Consumers must identify toxic food products through pesticide testing and information sharing, and then choose the cleanest food they can afford. This will increase the financing of appropriate production and the opportunity for a cleaner world for all living things.
References
Neonics Threatening Our Pollinators: https://www.panna.org/news/neonics-threaten-pollinators/
The Effects of Pesticides on Farming and Pollination: https://www.pollinator.org/learning-center/pesticides#:~:text=Pollinator
The Risks of Pesticides to Pollinators: https://xerces.org/pesticides/risks-pesticides-pollinators
