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Wildflowers Give Bees a Dose of Pesticides

Posted by timothy on from the bzzt-pass-it-on dept.

JMarshall writes: Wildflowers growing near fields sown with pesticide-treated seeds can be reservoirs of bee-harming neonicotinoid compounds, according to new research. The study suggests bees get most of their exposure to these pesticides from wildflowers, rather than from the crops the pesticides are designed to protect. At the peak of flowering season, 97% of the pollen brought back to beehives tested in the UK came from wildflowers, not the canola crops they were growing alongside.

2 of 38 comments (clear)

  1. Re:Bad reporters, no science for you by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 4, Interesting

    Since it persists in the environment, banning neonicotonoids isn't going to have an effect for many years.

  2. Not mentioned... by willworkforbeer · · Score: 5, Funny

    Monsanto has demanded licensing payments for every jar sold of Pesticide Honey (TM).

    --
    Pretending this is my office full of bitter coworkers..