“We want to know if there are pesticides in dead bumblebees,” Brunt tells NH. For that reason she asks everyone to collect the small yellow/black animals. The researcher does this, among other things, together with the bee foundation.
Scientists now know that there are pesticides in nature. “A lot of research has been done about this in recent years,” says Brunt. “There are pesticides until deep in the nature areas. We now also want to know if it has an impact on in this case bumble bees.”
Recognizable insects
When Brunt is asked why bumble bees, she says: “Bumblebees are nice and cuddly, they rarely prick and everyone recognizes them.” Brunt himself also saw many dead bumblebees in her own backyard. “If you are going to pay attention, you see it everywhere.”
The researcher expects that she and her colleagues can show that there are indeed pesticides in bumble bees. “Ultimately, we want to know how many there are, what they are and to what extent that is dangerous for reproduction, for example.” It is becoming increasingly clear that pesticides are a problem, Brunt knows. “More and more research is being done into that.”
‘Every bumblebee is useful’
People who are interested in cooperating in civil research receive an information package. Helpers can send dead bumblebees until 30 June. The researchers already have two thousand registrations, but she hopes to recruit more participants. “Every bumblebee is useful for the research.”