Australian research has found that an insecticide may slowly contribute to bee population decline even at low doses. A study by the University of Melbourne exposed bees to only small amounts of neonicotinoid insecticides (the most frequently used class of pesticides globally) including imidacloprid, akin to what one might expect in nature. The insects still suffered—it lowered their energy levels, impacted their metabolism, killed brain cells, and caused blindness. Emeritus Professor Philip Batterham said the insecticide throws off their guidance system and causes a decrease in reproductive capacity. “We were able to attribute this oxidative stress to the binding of imidacloprid to receptors in the brain,” Batterham told the AAP. Batterham’s study shed light on alternatives to insecticides, such as impeding pests’ reproduction by genetic modification and the use of bacteria. He said that all options must be on the table. “We need to assess them all, and do the …