Honey bees are killed only by direct contact with insecticides during spray applications.

• A. True
• B. False
• C. Only by direct contact
• D. Bees can be harmed through indirect exposure as well

Answer: (B)

Bees can be harmed through multiple exposure pathways, not just direct contact during spraying. Insecticides can contaminate nectar and pollen, so foraging bees bring toxins back to the hive even if they didn’t contact droplets firsthand. Systemic insecticides move inside the plant and can be present in nectar and pollen, exposing bees that visit flowers. Residues can persist on blooming plants, in water sources, or be deposited by drift onto nearby flowers, meaning bees can encounter pesticides well after spraying ends. Even if exposure isn’t immediately lethal, sublethal effects—like impaired navigation, foraging, and immune function—can weaken a colony over time. So saying bees are killed only by direct contact isn’t accurate.