Evaluation of the lethal effects of the herbicide glyphosate on Apis mellifera
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.51252/revza.v5i2.1155Keywords:
beekeeping, Apis mellifera, glyphosate, pollintion, toxicityAbstract
Apis mellifera bees are essential for pollination and food security, but their health is at risk due to exposure to agrochemicals such as glyphosate. This herbicide, which is widely used in modern agriculture, has been linked to problems in the gut microbiota, the nervous system, and colony survival. This study aimed to evaluate the effects of glyphosate on Apis mellifera and understand how local beekeepers perceive it. The research was conducted at the La Ercilia site in the Ventanas canton, Los Ríos province, Ecuador, using an exploratory approach that included field visits, direct observations in apiaries, surveys of 15 beekeepers, and a review of the existing literature. The results revealed that 67% of beekeepers acknowledged frequent use of glyphosate, of which 60% noted negative effects on their hives, such as the loss of foraging bees, a decrease in hives, low honey production, and an increase in the presence of diseases. These findings are consistent with what has been documented in the scientific literature; in this context, glyphosate poses a significant threat to local beekeeping, making it necessary to implement good environmental practices and improve technical training to mitigate its effects.
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Copyright (c) 2025 Amelia Alexandra Vega-Sanabria, Ángel Joel Yépez-Rosado, John Jairo Tejena-Soledispa, Ándrea Karolina León-Fajardo, Yaimy Valeria González-Gaibor, Fernando Manuel López-Castro
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