BLACKSBURG, Va., April 3 -- Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University issued the following news release:
Cultivating flowering plants for pollinator gardens, commercial farms, or home landscapes often relies on the use of herbicides to manage unwanted weeds. Honeybees are attracted to these locations and play a critical role in their success. So what happens when foraging bees pick up a dose of weedkiller?
Research from Virginia Tech, supported by a grant from the National Institute of Food and Agriculture and a graduate student grant from the university's Department of Entomology, found exposure to glyphosate - a common weed killer - disrupts honeybee foraging and threatens the long-term stability of hives.
The study, publishe...