A study has revealed that the genes of honeybees are affected by exposure to neonicotinoid insecticides.

Researchers were able to identify that just two parts per billion of the insecticide imidacloprid was strong enough to impact on the activity of honeybee genes.

The findings follow the European Commission's decision to temporarily ban the use of three neonicotinoids back in April 2013, due to concerns they could be linked to bee deaths.

Dr Reinhard Stöger, an associate professor in epigenetic at the University of Nottingham's School of Biosciences, led the study.

He said: "Although larvae can still grow and develop in the presence of imidacloprid, the stability of the developmental process appears to be compromised."

Dr Stöger also added that, should the bees be exposed to additional stresses, such as pests, disease and bad weather, it is likely to increase the rate of developmental failure.

The results support the European Food Safety Authority's (EFSA) January 2013 report, which deemed imidacloprid an "unacceptable" danger to bees.

Transient Exposure to Low Levels of Insecticide Affects Metabolic Networks of Honeybee Larvae has been published in the Public Library Of Science (PLOS) ONE journal.

The study was funded by the Co-operative Group under its Plan Bee campaign.

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