nicotine is an immuno-suppressant.

veroa mite is arguably a bigger cause of problems for honey bees (eg colony collapse) but every little helps.

I asked a member of the Wiltshire Bee Ass. and he was of the opinion that the best defence (for such) was to breed it out of them. But such change always comes with changes. And you don't know until you know.

The problem with nicotinoids is they are not discriminating. They are insecticides, that is their purpose. Clue is in the name.

There are many pollinator insects, and all are prey to insecticides. In fact all other pollinators outnumber honey bees.

And FWIW a GM crop that expresses chemicals toxic to pests (eg neonics) expresses it to us. Secondary vape anyone?