Glyphosate linked to reduced honeybee foraging and anxiety-like behavior in new studies

A Virginia Tech study released on Aug. 6, 2026 found that honeybees exposed to glyphosate foraged 13% less after three days and exhibited changes in brain chemicals associated with behavior. The research, led by Associate Professor Margaret Couvillon and Ph.D. student Laura McHenry, was published in the Journal of Experimental Biology and adds to evidence of sub‑lethal effects of the world’s most widely used herbicide.

A separate multigenerational study conducted by the Ramazzini Institute together with researchers from the University of California, Santa Cruz and George Mason University reported dose‑dependent anxiety‑like behavior in rats exposed to glyphosate‑based herbicides. The preprint also suggests a possible link to autism spectrum disorder, challenging regulatory claims that typical exposure levels are safe. Both studies raise new concerns about the health and ecological impacts of glyphosate.