Wednesday, February 12, 2025

Bee Survival Bolstered by Life-Saving Pesticide Antidote

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Scientists found that giving bees absorbent hydrogel can help them survive harmful pesticides. Bees are important for plants and crops but can get sick from chemicals in pollen. Hydrogel, a safe material, can stick to pesticides in the bees’ bodies. Researchers tested this on common eastern bumblebees.

Julia Caserto and her team from Cornell University in New York did the study. They put tiny hydrogel particles in sugar water for the bees to drink. The bees then got a lot of pesticides. Bees that had hydrogel had a better chance of staying alive.

When bees had pesticides that could make them sick, hydrogel helped them feel better. Bees with hydrogel could eat, walk, and fly more easily. This could be a good solution for managed bee colonies, like those for honey and crops.

Hydrogel can be added to bee food to protect them from pesticides. This can help bees stay healthy and safe while working.


Vocabulary List:

  1. Hydrogel /ˈhaɪ.drəʊ.ɡɛl/ (noun): A water-absorbing gel used in various applications including agriculture and medicine.
  2. Pesticides /ˈpɛs.tɪ.sɑɪdz/ (noun): Chemical substances used to kill pests that harm crops and plants.
  3. Absorbent /əbˈzɔr.bənt/ (adjective): Having the ability to soak up liquid or moisture.
  4. Survive /sərˈvaɪv/ (verb): To continue to live or exist especially after a dangerous situation.
  5. Colony /ˈkɑː.lə.ni/ (noun): A group of organisms living together especially in reference to social insects like bees.
  6. Chemicals /ˈkɛmɪkəlz/ (noun): Substances with a defined composition used in or produced by chemical processes.

How much do you know?


What is the purpose of giving bees absorbent hydrogel?
Help them survive harmful pesticides
Enhance their ability to gather nectar
Improve their pollination efficiency
Increase their lifespan


Where did Julia Caserto and her team conduct the study on bees with hydrogel?
Harvard University
Cornell University
Stanford University
Yale University


What effect did hydrogel have on bees that had pesticides?
Increased nectar production
Strengthened wings for better flight
Improved chances of survival
Enhanced vision for navigation


What type of bees were used in the research study with hydrogel?
Western honey bees
Common eastern bumblebees
Africanized killer bees
European honey bees


How did researchers administer hydrogel to the bees in the study?
Injecting it into the bees
Mixing it with nectar
Spraying it on the bees
Placing it in beehives


In what way did hydrogel help bees with pesticides feel better?
Improved memory retention
Enhanced camouflage abilities
Increased communication skills
Enabled eating, walking, and flying more easily

This question is required


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