What is a common consequence of pesticide misuse on pollinators?

• A. Pollinators experience no harm.
• B. Pesticide residues always improve pollinator health.
• C. Harm to bees and other pollinators, including mortality and sublethal effects that disrupt foraging and reproduction.
• D. Pollinator populations increase tolerance to pesticides.

Answer: (C)

Pesticide misuse exposes pollinators to harmful chemicals, causing both death and lasting sublethal effects. Pollinators collect nectar and pollen from treated plants, so residues can be present in their food and drift can bring pesticides into non-target areas. This exposure can kill individuals outright, and it can also produce sublethal effects that disrupt essential behaviors like foraging, navigation, learning, and reproduction. In bees, for example, sublethal exposure often leads to poorer pollen collection, impaired ability to find flowers, and reduced brood development, all of which weaken colonies over time. The result is diminished pollination services and population decline in pollinators. Pesticides don’t make pollinators healthier or more tolerant; rather, exposure stresses them and undermines their ability to thrive.