Canadian beekeepers have reported millions of bees dying just
after corn seeds, treated with neonicotinoid pesticides, were
planted
An estimated 25,000 bumblebees were recently found dead in an
Oregon parking lot, just a short time after trees in the area
had been sprayed with a neonicotinoid insecticide
The state of Oregon has banned 18 such pesticides pending an
investigation into bee deaths; the European Union has also
banned the pesticides for two years to further study their
impacts on bee populations
Beekeeping organizations and beekeepers have filed a legal
action against the EPA for recently approving sulfoxaflor, a
similar pesticide to neonicotinoids
By Dr. Mercola
Just weeks ago in Elmwood, Canada, local beekeeper Dave
Schuit lost 600 hives, or a total of 37 million bees. Another
Canadian farmer lost eight of his 10 hives.
The bees started dying in droves just after corn in the area
was planted, an alarming red flag since corn seeds are often
treated with neonicotinoid pesticides, which are known to kill
insects by attacking their nervous systems.
Some governments are finally taking action against
these toxic chemicals, but clearly not fast enough. How many
more millions of bees have to die before protection is
granted to these invaluable creatures?
For those who aren’t aware, there are about 100 crop species
that provide 90 percent of food globally and, of these, 71 are
pollinated by bees.1
In the US alone, a full one-third of the food supply depends
on pollination from bees -- so if bee colonies continue to be
devastated, major food shortages will inevitably result.
Large Bee Kills Are Now Becoming Commonplace
Something is wrong – very wrong – if millions of bees are
dying off in a matter of days. Schuit noted that he now has to
replace his queen bees every few months, instead of every few
years, because they are dying off so frequently.2
Last month, an estimated 25,000 bumblebees were found dead in
an Oregon parking lot as well, just a short time after 55 trees
in the area had been sprayed with Safari, a neonicotinoid
insecticide. Ironically, the dead bees were found just as
National Pollinator Week was kicking off.
These chemicals are typically applied to seeds before
planting, allowing the pesticide to be taken up through the
plant’s vascular system as it grows. As a result, the chemical
is expressed in the pollen and nectar of the plant, and hence
the danger to bees and other pollinating insects.
Adding to the problem are new ‘air seeders,’ which spread
pesticide dust into the air when they’re planted, further
increasing the toxic chemicals’ reach. According to the
Cornucopia Institute:3
“What seems to be deadly to bees is that the
neonicotinoid pesticides are coating corn seed and with the
use of new air seeders, are blowing the pesticide dust into
the air when planted. The death of millions of pollinators
was looked at by American Purdue University.
They found that, ‘Bees exhibited neurotoxic symptoms,
analysis of dead bees revealed traces of
thiamethoxam/clothianidin in each case. Seed treatments of
field crops (primarily corn) are the only major source of
these compounds.’”
Oregon, European Union Ban Pesticides in Wake of Massive Bee
Deaths
At least one US state is taking matters seriously. Following
the
June incident that killed 25,000 bumblebees, the Oregon
Department of Agriculture (ODA) installed bee-proof nets over
the trees to prevent any further bee deaths. They also announced
that they were restricting the use of 18 pesticide products
containing dinotefuran, a type of neonicotinoid. According to
ODA:4
“ODA has confirmed that the bee deaths are directly
related to a pesticide application on the linden trees… to
control aphids. The pesticide product Safari was used in
that application. Safari, with its active ingredient
dinotefuran, is part of a group of insecticides known as
neonicotinoids. Valent USA is the distributor of Safari. ODA
collected samples… of bees and foliage in the area, and
conducted laboratory analysis.”
The restriction focuses on pesticide products used by both
professionals and homeowners for ornamental, turf and
agricultural purposes, and will continue while the investigation
of the bumblebee kill continues. ODA stated:5
“By adopting a temporary rule, ODA is taking action,
in an abundance of caution, to avoid the potential of
similar large bee kills this summer due to specific
pesticide applications.”
Earlier this year the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA)
also released a report that ruled neonicotinoid insecticides are
essentially “unacceptable” for many crops,6
and now the European Union has voted to ban neonicotinoid
pesticides including clothianidin, imidacloprid and thiametoxam
for two years, beginning December 1, 2013, to study their
involvement with large bee kills they, too, are experiencing.7
RT News reported:8
“European countries have been given six months to use
up their current stocks of the chemicals. Scientists will
then have two years to determine whether the ban helps stop
declines in bee populations, after which the restriction may
be reviewed. Until that point, the pesticide ban will be
upheld.”
Beekeeping Industry Sues EPA for Approval of Bee-Killing
Pesticide
As Oregon and the EU take steps to ban neonicotinoids, the US
Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has green-lighted another
pesticide that is a close cousin to these toxic chemicals. The
EPA has already been sued once by beekeepers and environmental
groups for
failing to protect bees from neonicotinoid pesticides.
Now several beekeeping organizations and beekeepers have
filed a legal action against the EPA for approving sulfoxaflor,
a similar pesticide to neonicotinoids, which is expected to
similarly damage bees’ nervous systems. Sulfoxaflor is
considered by many to be a "fourth-generation neonicotinoid."9
The case, which was filed by The National Pollinator Defense
Fund, American Honey Producers Association, National Honey Bee
Advisory Board, the American Beekeeping Federation, and
beekeepers, notes that bees could potentially be exposed
numerous times to sulfoxaflor as they are moved across the
country to pollinate crops – with potentially disastrous impacts
on bee populations. Said beekeeper Jeff Anderson:10
“EPA’s approval of Sulfoxaflor with no enforceable
label protections for bees will speed our industry’s demise.
EPA is charged under FIFRA [Federal Insecticide, Fungicide,
and Rodenticide Act] with protecting non-target beneficial
insects, not just honeybees. EPA’s Sulfoxaflor registration
press release says, ‘… the final label includes robust terms
for protecting pollinators…’ This is a bold-faced lie!
There is absolutely no mandatory language on the
label that protects pollinators. Further, the label’s
advisory language leads spray applicators to believe that
notifying a beekeeper of a planned application, absolves
them of their legal responsibility in FIFRA to not kill
pollinators.”
The Rodale Institute Encourages Natural Beekeeping Practices
I recently visited the Rodale Institute and got a tour of
their brand new Honeybee Conservancy and research facility. As
reported on their website11:
“The 2013 Conservancy has a new physical arrangement
and a whole new set of beds that include nectar plants that
bloom throughout the season and incorporate biodynamic
principles... We’ll be looking at the impacts of compost,
compost extracts and biodynamic preparations on the health
and vitality of the plants.”
At the Rodale Institute they believe that one of the
solutions to the declining honeybee populations lies with
individual honeybee stewards, and they offer classes in
sustainable beekeeping practices toward that end. They even host
hives on their 333-acre farm so even beginners can get involved.
Clearly, if we want to protect bees and other pollinators, we’ve
got to stop poisoning them with the large-scale use of toxic
chemicals. But we can each do our own part, too, and that is
what the Rodale Institute is all about.
Vanishing of the Bees Gives a Compelling Glimpse Into
the Worldwide Implications of Bee Die-Offs
If you would like to learn more about the economic, political and
ecological implications of the worldwide disappearance of the
honeybee, check out the documentary film
Vanishing of the Bees. If you’d like to get involved,
here are four actions you can take to help preserve and protect our
honeybees:
Support organic farmers and shop at local farmer's markets
as often as possible. You can "vote with your fork" three times
a day. (When you buy organic, you are making a statement by
saying "no" to GMOs and toxic pesticides.)
Cut the use of toxic chemicals in your house and on your
lawn, and use only organic, all-natural forms of pest control.
Better yet, get rid of your lawn altogether and plant a
garden or other natural habitat. Lawns offer very little benefit
for the environment. Both flower and vegetable gardens provide
excellent natural honeybee habitats.
Become an amateur beekeeper. Having a hive in your garden
requires only about an hour of your time per week, benefits your
local ecosystem, and you can enjoy your own honey!
Worldofbeekeeping.com and beekeeping.org are but two websites
that can help you get started.
The Bee-Action Campaign: Help Stop the Use of Toxic
Neonicotinoids
Neonicotinoid pesticides are widely used in large-scale
agriculture, but that’s not the only place they’re found.
They’re also widely sold in garden centers (including big-name
stores like Home Depot and Lowe’s) and are even found in seeds
and plants you may purchase from your local nurseries.
Friends of the Earth has launched the Bee-Action Campaign to
tell stores to take bee-killing pesticides like noeonicotinoids
off of their shelves, and you can help by
signing their petition now.