IMHO, the academic community is the root source of the overblown claims.  
Three examples:

1) Professor Orley (Chip) Taylor, Professor, University of Kansas 1/11/14: 

"as you all know, honey bees are in big trouble due to a multitude of factors.  
The causes aren't the same as those that affect monarchs [butterflies], but the 
habitat, herbicide and systemic insecticide issues overlap": 
http://imagizer.imageshack.us/a/img21/7452/8coz.jpg

2) Professor Marla Spivak, Professor, University of Minnesota:

"the legislation is an important protection for bees and reflects a new consumer 
demand."

Pollinator plant labeling passes the Minnesota legislature
http://blogs.mprnews.org/statewide/2014/05/pollinator-plant-labeling-passes-the-minnesota-legislature/
"A person may not label or advertise an annual plant, bedding plant, or other 
plant, plant material, or nursery stock as beneficial to pollinators if the annual 
plant, bedding plant, plant material, or nursery stock has been treated with and 
has a detectable level of systemic insecticide.”

3) Professor David Goulson, University of Stirling, U.K.,

"bees have been in trouble for a long time." "A study that came out
of Italy showed that exposure to low levels of neonicotinoids knocked
out part of the immune system of honey bees and therefore allowed
viruses to replicate more rapidly."
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=woJPdJukC1E

Paul Cherubini
El Dorado, Calif.

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