The disappearance of bees across North America and Europe can be attributed to their addiction to nicotine based pesticides, scientists claim.

If this new finding is confirmed, these tiny insects that aid in the pollination of plants are suffering from a severe addiction that can be compared to smoking cigarettes for humans.

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This new breed of insecticides called neonicotinoids work by targeting the insects' central nervous systems. Once the chemicals are ingested by the bees, these poisonous substance, which are also found in tobacco, can lead to the paralysis and death of the bees.

The European Union has already banned the use of these neonicotinoids along with seven other non-EU countries after conducting intensive research beginning with studies in Germany. Neonicotinoids have also been linked to colony collapse disorder.

The most widely used insecticide is a variety of neonicotinoid called imidacloprid. Other forms of this chemical class also include acetamiprid, clothianidin, nitenpyram, nithiazine, thiacloprid and thiamethoxam. These insecticides were first developed by Bayer and Shell in the 1980s. 

Researchers conducted experiments among buff tailed bumblebees and honeybees that were given a choice between pure sugar water or sugar water laced with trace amounts of insecticide. Researchers observed the bees preferred to consume the neonicotinoid laced sugar.

Upon further investigation, another surprising finding was the bees weren't able to taste the samples, meaning the addictive properties of the nicotine based insecticide played a pivotal role in their choice.

Bees apparently can't detect the insecticide due to their lack of taste receptors, which means they also can't taste other insecticides that can potentially damage wild colonies.

Neonicotinoids target the bee brain similar to what nicotine does to the human brain, according to Geraldine Wright of the Institute of Neuroscience from Newcastle University. The evidence bees prefer food that contains neonicotinoids means they indeed like nicotine that can act as a drug, and which makes it rewarding for them to eat.

In turn, bees that consume these harmful insecticides get a buzz from nicotine-based products, which is ironic since tobacco plants produce nicotine to repel insects as a natural form of insecticide.

Large doses of these neonicotinoids are fatal to the tiny bees.

Neonicotinoids are dangerous to the health of bees since this chemical impairs the motor function among bees and hinders their foraging for food. This can lead to environmental damage and can cause widespread loss of bees, and ultimately decrease pollination of plants and food shortages.

This study was published in the journal, Nature.

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