title: A meta-analysis of effects of Bt crops on honey bees (Hymenoptera: Apidae).
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Honey bees (Apis mellifera L.) are the most important pollinators of many agricultural crops worldwide and are a key test species used in the tiered safety assessment of genetically engineered insect-resistant crops. There is concern that widespread planting of these transgenic crops could harm honey bee populations.
  
  
  RESULTS
  We conducted a meta-analysis of 25 studies that independently assessed potential effects of Bt Cry proteins on honey bee survival (or mortality). Our results show that Bt Cry proteins used in genetically modified crops commercialized for control of lepidopteran and coleopteran pests do not negatively affect the survival of either honey bee larvae or adults in laboratory settings.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Although the additional stresses that honey bees face in the field could, in principle, modify their susceptibility to Cry proteins or lead to indirect effects, our findings support safety assessments that have not detected any direct negative effects of Bt crops for this vital insect pollinator.
authors.affiliation: Ecological Technology Center, Monsanto Company, St. Louis, Missouri, USA.
authors.forename: Jian J
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Duan
authors.forename: Michelle
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Marvier
authors.forename: Joseph
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Huesing
authors.forename: Galen
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Dively
authors.forename: Zachary Y
authors.initials: ZY
authors.lastname: Huang
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001427:Bacterial Toxins; D001516:Bees; D018556:Crops, Agricultural; D011498:Protein Precursors
chemical_list: C029103:Bacillus thuringiensis protoxin; D001427:Bacterial Toxins; D011498:Protein Precursors