Earth Day: US commercial beekeepers call for the ban of neonicotinoids

Last week, UK Environmental Audit Committee called for  a moratorium by next January on neonicotinoids. Following their steps, commercial beekeepers from USA are running a campaign against these pesticides.

They demanded the Environmental Protection Agency ban Bayer’s neonicotinoid pesticide clothianidin which are strongly linked to the Colony Collapse Disorder of honeybees. In 2003, a report published by EPA, confirmed that these pesticides are toxic to bees, but the product snuck it’s way into the market awaiting “more conclusive” field tests from Bayer. In 2007, EPA accepted Bayer’s results which claim that the clothianidin is safe for honey bees. Meanwhile, recent research conducted by independent scientists clearly shows the link between the pesticide and harmful effects on honeybees immune system.

On the special occasion of  Earth Day 2013 tomorrow, a petition will be delivered to the EPA headquarters in Washington DC by a swarm of bee-activists.

If you want to be part of the solution, sign the petition on causes.com

This study on Bumble bees may save the Honey bee

Nearly a third of global food supplies are directly dependant on Honey bees and the pollination they provide. The relatively recent rise in CCD (Colony Collapse Disorder) is cause for alarm across the world.

While CCD initially baffled the scientific community, of late some light has been shed on this alarming trend.  Scientists focused on the subject are looking into several avenues of research in order to address CCD. Closely studying their first cousins the Bumblebee is one such avenue. Bumble bees unlike their counterparts the Honey bees have an annual life cycle, meaning that they don’t survive till winter. It is left to the surviving few fertilized queens to repopulate the hive post-winter in the spring.  More info on the larger bee order (Hymenoptera) is available here.

A study conducted by Dr. David Goulson (Prof. Bio-sciences at Uni. of Stirling) on Bumble bees has revealed some startling findings. Monitoring the effect of Neonicotinoids (a neuro-active class of insecticides) on Bumblebees, Goulson found that colonies exposed to “field-realistic” levels of the insecticides reported 85% decline in queen populations.

Bumble bees are protected by national and international laws. Honey bees being domesticated species remain unprotected and vulnerable. It’ll prove extremely difficult for the various world governments to turn a blind eye to the vast populations of Bumble bees that face this fate. However, it will not be as easy to reduce the use of insecticides in the commercialized, profit-driven beekeeping industry we’ve created.

We at ApiAnon hope that this revelation goes a long way encouraging an outright ban of the deadly Neonicotinoids. These insecticides affect the central nervous systems of a range of insects and the link between them and CCD is undeniable.

For more information on Bumble bees and the Dr.Goulson’s work click here

[Photo credit orangeaurochs]