Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

To: HKMk23
Glyphosate is relatively non-toxic to honeybees.

In terms of direct toxicity, that seems to be true. However, from the article I posted here:

The herbicide glyphosate is expected to be innocuous to animals, including bees, because it targets an enzyme only found in plants and microorganisms. However, bees rely on a specialized gut microbiota that benefits growth and provides defense against pathogens. Most bee gut bacteria contain the enzyme targeted by glyphosate, but vary in whether they possess susceptible versions and, correspondingly, in tolerance to glyphosate. Exposing bees to glyphosate alters the bee gut community and increases susceptibility to infection by opportunistic pathogens. Understanding how glyphosate impacts bee gut symbionts and bee health will help elucidate a possible role of this chemical in colony decline.

Note that it states that glyphosphate "has a possible role" in "colony decline," but does not conclude that that it is the main cause.

44 posted on 09/25/2018 10:54:04 AM PDT by ding_dong_daddy_from_dumas (Mozart tells you what it's like to be human. Bach tells you what it's like to be the universe)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 39 | View Replies ]


To: ding_dong_daddy_from_dumas

“...glyphosphate ‘has a possible role’ in ‘colony decline,’ ...”

Agreed. Glyphosate impact on the gut flora of honeybees may be measurable in lab analysis of individual bees, but is it life-altering for the bee, or is it something more like a nagging indigestion that is surmountable both on the individual, and therefore also the collective, level?

It’s good to know there’s an identified vector for the impact of glyphosate on bees, but unless that vector is robust, and is an avenue of dire negative to the whole hive, that it has been identified isn’t, of itself, basis to quit use of glyphosate.

There would have to be research-supported evidence that glyphosate substantively disrupts the gut flora of honeybees to an extent that is so life-altering for the affected individuals as to be a negative life-cycle impact to the whole hive to which those individuals belong. I still think we’re a long way from a finding of that gravity.


67 posted on 09/26/2018 11:54:01 AM PDT by HKMk23 (You ask how to fight an idea? Well, I'll tell you how: with another idea!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 44 | View Replies ]

Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article


FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson