After pesticides that harm bees have been banned in the UK and Europe, chemical manufacturing professionals have been working hard to find environmentally friendly replacements.
However, experts have said that some new ‘bee safe’ pesticides could still cause the insects harm when used in combination with other chemicals that are being placed on crops.
A new study by scientists at the University of California looked at exposure of honeybees to the safe insecticide flupyradifurone as well as a common fungicide, the Independent reported.
While flupyradifurone has the same properties as neonicotinoids, the chemical that has been banned for being unsafe for bees, it is sold as a safe product to use.
However, researchers published their findings in Proceedings of the Royal Society B, which revealed that when used in combination with a common fungicide, this leads to the abnormal behaviour and even death of bees.
The decision to ban neonicotinoids was given the go ahead by European Union (EU) member nations last year due to the threat they pose to bees.
European commissioner for Health and Food Safety Vytenis Andriukaitis told The Guardian: “Bee health remains of paramount importance for me since it concerns biodiversity, food production and the environment.”
It is essential to protect bees, as they pollinate three-quarters of crops. Therefore, they are vital to keep food production going.
The EU initially prevented the use of neonicotinoids on flowering crops that typically attract bees in 2013 before having a widespread ban towards the end of 2018.
While neonicotinoids are no longer used, the scientists believe flupyradifurone, which is sold by Bayer under the name Sivanto, to be just as detrimental to bee safety.