Bumblebee Queens Prefer to Live in a Toxic Home
Briefly

Research has shown that bumblebee queens surprisingly prefer to hibernate in soil contaminated with pesticides, a finding that may pose serious health risks to these crucial pollinators.
Researchers found that common eastern bumblebee queens do not avoid pesticides, showing a preference for pesticide-laced soil even at high concentrations, which raises alarming questions.
The study's findings highlight a striking duality: while pesticides are toxic to bees, these queens seem drawn to contaminated environments, suggesting a previously unknown ecological risk.
Bumblebee queens, known for their solitary winters, may inadvertently seek out hazardous conditions, which could jeopardize their survival and challenge existing bumblebee population stability.
Read at www.nytimes.com
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