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Studies Link Pesticides To Bee Colony Collapse Disorder

Posted by Soulskill on from the sorry-for-breaking-your-species dept.

T Murphy writes "Neonicotinoid pesticides, designed to attack insects such as beetles and aphids, have been shown to harm bees' ability to navigate back to the hive. While initially assumed safe in low enough, non-fatal doses for bees, two papers have shown that may not be the case. Although the studies don't directly study the Colony Collapse Disorder, the scientists believe these pesticides are likely a contributing factor."

1 of 128 comments (clear)

  1. From 2010 by bacon.frankfurter · · Score: 5, Informative
    In Italy:

    Following France and Germany, last year the Italian Agriculture Ministry suspended the use of a class of pesticides, nicotine-based neonicotinoids, as a "precautionary measure." The compelling results - restored bee populations - prompted the government to uphold the ban. Yesterday, copies of the film 'Nicotine Bees' were delivered to the US Congress explaining the pesticide's connection to Colony Collapse Disorder. Despite the evidence, why does CCD remain a 'mystery' in the US?

    http://www.treehugger.com/clean-technology/nicotine-bees-population-restored-with-neonicotinoids-ban.html