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<p>The global decline of bee species, particularly honey bees, presents a critical threat to agricultural productivity, biodiversity, and ecosystem stability. This multifactorial crisis is driven by a complex interplay of environmental, chemical, and biological stressors. Widespread exposure to pesticides—especially systemic insecticides like thiamethoxam and imidacloprid, often in combination with ergosterol-inhibiting fungicides—impairs bees’ navigation, foraging, reproduction, and immune function, while also increasing susceptibility to pathogens such as <i>Varroa destructor</i> and deformed wing virus. These exposures occur via contaminated pollen, nectar, guttation droplets, and honeydew, as well as direct overspray and atmospheric deposition of fine particulate matter and heavy metals. Forager bees introduce these contaminants into hives, compounding their impact and accelerating the onset of colony collapse disorder (CCD). Concurrently, habitat fragmentation, climate change, monoculture farming, poor apicultural practices, electromagnetic radiation, and nutritional deficiencies due to reduced floral diversity further compromise bee health and survival. The cascading effects of these pressures lead to a decline in pollination services, reduced crop yield and quality, economic losses, food insecurity, and broader ecosystem destabilization. This review underscores the urgent need for integrative, interdisciplinary approaches to mitigate bee population decline and safeguard global pollination services.</p>

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An Overview of Complex Threats to Bee Populations: Pesticides, Contaminants, and the Urgency for Research

  • 期刊论文

  • 发表日期：

    2025年9月12日

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  • Ananya Roy Chowdhury,
  • Sudha Gupta

摘要

The global decline of bee species, particularly honey bees, presents a critical threat to agricultural productivity, biodiversity, and ecosystem stability. This multifactorial crisis is driven by a complex interplay of environmental, chemical, and biological stressors. Widespread exposure to pesticides—especially systemic insecticides like thiamethoxam and imidacloprid, often in combination with ergosterol-inhibiting fungicides—impairs bees’ navigation, foraging, reproduction, and immune function, while also increasing susceptibility to pathogens such as Varroa destructor and deformed wing virus. These exposures occur via contaminated pollen, nectar, guttation droplets, and honeydew, as well as direct overspray and atmospheric deposition of fine particulate matter and heavy metals. Forager bees introduce these contaminants into hives, compounding their impact and accelerating the onset of colony collapse disorder (CCD). Concurrently, habitat fragmentation, climate change, monoculture farming, poor apicultural practices, electromagnetic radiation, and nutritional deficiencies due to reduced floral diversity further compromise bee health and survival. The cascading effects of these pressures lead to a decline in pollination services, reduced crop yield and quality, economic losses, food insecurity, and broader ecosystem destabilization. This review underscores the urgent need for integrative, interdisciplinary approaches to mitigate bee population decline and safeguard global pollination services.