Honeybee diet change boosts pesticide survival from below 50% to 90%

A new Penn State study suggests that honey bees may be better able to withstand pesticide exposure when their diet contains more polyunsaturated fatty acids, a type of fat commonly associated with healthy cell function, brain support and heart health in humans. In the experiment, bees fed a polyunsaturated-fat-rich diet had a 90% survival rate after pesticide exposure, compared with less than 50% for bees fed diets high in saturated or monounsaturated fats.The findings add a fresh layer to what scientists already know about bee nutrition. It is not only how much bees eat that matters, but also the quality of the fats in their food.