A recent study suggests that Omega-3-rich oil, which has been recognized for its effectiveness in preventing heart disease and promoting brain and eye health, can also prevent damage to honey bee mitochondria caused by neonicotinoid pesticides.

A recent study conducted by Hichem Menail, a Ph.D. student at the Université de Moncton in New Brunswick, Canada, suggests that the use of ahiflower oil, a type of omega-3-rich oil, can protect honey bee mitochondria from damage caused by neonicotinoid pesticides.

The research is part of an ongoing project addressing the impact of pesticides on insect populations, considering their crucial role in maintaining ecosystem balance and biodiversity, as well as their significance for global food crops.

“Pesticides are a major threat to insect populations and as insects are at the core of ecosystem richness and balance, any loss in insect biodiversity can lead to catastrophic outcome,” highlights Menail, adding that pesticide-related pollinator declines are also a huge concern for food crops globally.

Neonicotinoid pesticides, with imidacloprid being one of the most commonly used, pose a significant threat due to their high toxicity and persistence in the environment. Although the European Union banned the outdoor use of imidacloprid and two other neonicotinoids in 2018, their use continues globally, including in the United States. Preventing honey bees from exposure and subsequent poisoning by these pesticides is practically unfeasible.

To counteract the effects of neonicotinoid exposure, Menail and his team explored the potential of an omega-3-rich oil. They conducted an experiment using three groups of bees, each fed a sucrose syrup containing either the pesticide alone, ahiflower oil alone, or both combined. After 25 days, the researchers measured the bees’ mitochondrial respiration, a key indicator of their overall health.

The results confirmed the adverse impact of imidacloprid on mitochondrial respiration, as hypothesized. However, the surprising finding was the immediate beneficial effect of ahiflower oil on mitochondrial respiration. Bees fed both imidacloprid and ahiflower oil simultaneously showed a recovery of their respiration rates to levels similar to the control group.

These findings hold promising applications, including the potential development of food supplements that could help reduce honey bee mortalities resulting from pesticide exposure.

By enhancing honey bees’ respiration through ahiflower oil supplementation, the researchers believe that mitochondria can increase ATP production and overall performance, ultimately boosting honey bees’ immune systems.

“We believe that this strategy is promising,” adds Menail. “By improving their respiration through ahiflower oil supplementation, we believe that mitochondria can increase their ATP production and thus improve overall performance of honey bees, as well as their immune system.”

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