Change in Bee Toxic Load (IMAGE) Penn State Caption Oral-based bee toxic load increased by 9-fold, on average, across the U.S. This pattern varied by region, with the greatest increase -- 121-fold -- seen in the Heartland, which the U.S. Department of Agriculture defines as all of Iowa, Illinois and Indiana; most of Missouri; and part of Minnesota, Ohio, Kentucky, Nebraska and South Dakota. The Northern Great Plains had the second highest increase at 53-fold. This region includes all of North Dakota and part of South Dakota, Nebraska, Colorado, Wyoming, Montana and Minnesota. Credit Scientific Reports; Margaret Douglas, Dickinson College Usage Restrictions None License Licensed content Disclaimer: AAAS and EurekAlert! are not responsible for the accuracy of news releases posted to EurekAlert! by contributing institutions or for the use of any information through the EurekAlert system.