A medicine for ill bumblebees (
Bombus terrestris) but a poison for healthy ones, researchers from Queen Mary University of London and Royal Holloway, University of London found that bumblebees infected with the trypanosome gut parasite
Crithidia bombi preferred nicotine-laced nectar. The nicotine had a benefit for infect bees: antimicrobial secondary metabolites which delayed the infection by a few days, though it didn't clear the infection entirely nor extend the overall life expectancy. When healthy bees consumed nicotine-laced nectar for long periods reduced their life expectancy, an effect not observed in infected bees.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnKGnOrJfnXfv8k5Hrghk-vE_I0N0x46BdnEPwHeW0PznHyXpMTdTEg0SJdBbYrjonmnL3kpfsmLwXLL8CF9WswT0Qghio9cICwANGhYTeeU-37HEQOf4_Gu5Cj6YEIxB-Q7uiRHbTwe4/s1600/5489202-LGPT.jpg) |
large earth humble bee (Bombus terrestris) by Whitney Cranshaw, Bugwood.org |
To read about the research:
Bumblebees use nicotine to fight off parasites
Images of
Bombus terrestris:
Bombus terrestris