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Scientists have found that pesticides harm ability of bees to find food. Bees must learn which flowers contain nectar (their food) from smell of flowers. If bees do not learn which scents mean food, they will starve. Researchers at University of Dundee in Scotland and Newcastle University in England found that pesticides used by farmers and gardeners can switch off part of a bee's brain that is responsible for associating smells with food. Lead researcher Dr Geraldine Wright said pesticides could seriously impact survival of honeybee colonies. She said, "bees that cannot learn will not be able to find food". This also means bees will not pollinate crops and wild plants.

Bee populations around world have been declining. Scientists have searched for long time for reason why so many bees are disappearing. This new research may be important clue. However, British government does not want to stop use of pesticides that may prevent bees from learning. It wants to carry out more tests to make sure pesticides are real reason for reduction in number of bees. spokeswoman from Friends Of Earth charity said government must act sooner rather than later. "Bee health is far too urgent to wait until more research has been completed. [Controls] should be placed on these pesticides until bee safety can be [guaranteed]," she said.