A new study from Macquarie University has found that chlorothalonil, a widely used fungicide on Australian fruits and vegetables, severely harms insect fertility and survival even at minimal levels, threatening pollinator populations and ecosystem stability.
The research, published in Royal Society Open Science showed a 37% drop in egg production among fruit flies exposed to typical crop residue levels, raising alarm over the chemical’s broader ecological impact.
“Even the very lowest concentration has a huge impact on the reproduction of the flies that we tested,” says lead author Darshika Dissawa, a PhD candidate from Macquarie’s School of Natural Sciences told Sci Tech Daily.
“This can have a big knock-on population impact over time because it affects both male and female fertility.”
Despite being banned in the EU, chlorothalonil is still commonly used in Australia, prompting calls for more sustainable agricultural practices and stricter evaluation of its effects on beneficial insects.
Image credit: Hans Isaacson
“threatening pollinator populations and ecosystem stability”. Surely not by design…