Specific fats protect bees against pesticide exposure.

Researchers at Pennsylvania State University have found that certain dietary fats may protect honey bees from pesticide toxicity. Published in the Journal of Insect Physiology, the study examined how diets rich in saturated, monounsaturated, or polyunsaturated fatty acids affected bee survival when exposed to chlorpyrifos. Bees consuming a diet high in polyunsaturated fats had a 90% survival rate, while those on saturated or monounsaturated diets had under 50% survival.