[BCFSN] Study Shows copper sulfate to Be Toxic to Stingless Bees

[Pamela Zevit Adamah Consultants]

"There's been a lot of focus and scientific study on the population reductions of honey bees and
other pollinators."  

"Now researchers may have found another possible cause: fertilizer. A new study from the Federal
University of Vicosa in Brazil is likely the first to find that copper sulfate, when used as a leaf
fertilizer, is lethal to the native Brazilian bee known as Friesella schrottkyi. In addition, the
study, which was published in the Journal of Economic Entomology, found that sublethal exposure also
affected the bee's behavior."

https://entomologytoday.org/2016/04/11/study-shows-leaf-fertilizers-to-be-toxic-to-stingless-bees/

 

The article references how copper sulfate is used differently in North America (fungicide versus
fertilizer). I am not aware of any studies on native North American bee species to determine the use
as a fungicide has similar implications. 

 

Pamela Zevit, RPBio 
Adamah Consultants 

Coquitlam BC Canada
604-939-0523 

 <mailto:adamah at telus.net> adamah at telus.net 

Re-connecting People & Nature 

Science World - Scientists in the Schools Ambassador

 

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