Quote:
Originally Posted by cmac2012
The bee-keeper who was featured on 60 minutes the other night claims that the nicotine based pesticides claim effectiveness by attacking insects immune systems.
No absolute smoking gun has been produced yet but it does make you wonder: a new virus suddenly more lethal to honey bees. Hmmm . . . . weakened immune systems . . . .
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It's been nearly 30 years since I had an entomology course so I am not totally sure of this.
I think nicotinic acid binds to acetylcholine, a neurotransmitter. It works through ingestion while feeding and disables the digestive tract first and then into the circulatory system with death nearly inevitable. The reason that DDT (and subsequently developed chlorinated hydrocarbons) supplanted nicotinic acid is that it was more effective wt/wt.
Also, nicotinic acid degrades rather quickly and is non-specific. Peragro will probably NOT volunteer to eat a spoonful of nicotinic acid.