Early life imidacloprid and copper exposure affects the gut microbiome, metabolism, and learning ability of honey bees (Apis mellifera).

The pesticide imidacloprid and the heavy metal copper provide some degree of protection to plants, while at the same time causing varying degrees of damage to bees. However, few studies have investigated the negative effects of imidacloprid and copper exposure on newly emerged bees (young bees), especially when both are present in a mix. In this study, young bees were exposed to sterile sucrose solutions containing imidacloprid (10 μg/L, 100 μg/L), copper (10 mg/L, 50 mg/L), or a mix of both (10 μg/L + 10 mg/L) for 5 days to assess their gut system and behavior, with survival and dietary consumption recorded over 21 days.