Publications by authors named "Ellie Bushnell-Crowther"
Article Synopsis
- Many bee species possess specific cytochrome P450 enzymes (P450s) that help detoxify certain insecticides, but the alfalfa leafcutter bee lacks these enzymes and is significantly more sensitive to insecticides.
- Research investigated the P450 genes in various Megachilidae bee species, revealing that many lack the CYP9Q-related genes and instead have evolved distinct P450s that cannot metabolize common neonicotinoid insecticides.
- Conversely, some tribes within the Megachilidae, like Osmiini and Dioxyini, do have protective P450s that can detoxify these harmful chemicals, highlighting the need for better pesticide risk assessments based on these evolutionary patterns.
