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Tue, 27 Mar 2012 11:34:40 -0400 |
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>Large die offs in the U.S. seemed to correspond with the areas using the
> most
> neonics. Coincidence?maybe? maybe not?<
Clearly, this argument was not supported by our own surveys over the first
few years after CCD, and others have now published papers saying the same,
that large die-offs are not necessarily correlated with areas of neonic
use. I spent part of last summer in the Canola fields around Lethbridge,
Canada. Bees there appeared to thrive, and beekeepers seemed to like getting
both a honey crop and a pollination fee.
Large die-offs where one sees dead bees can occur in any intensely managed
agricultural area from any number of causes, including pesticides. But the
worst kills that I see and get samples from are mainly from those
incidents involving the older, more toxic pesticides. Keep in mind also, just
because a crop is grown from treated seed does not mean the crop isn't
'sprayed' with other pesticides. I've seen this in the corn belt, bees dying
after the tractor or plane goes past spraying to control late season insect
pests.
Insecticides by definition are designed to kill insects. The substantive
question is which are the best choices to minimize risk to the bee AND to
humans and other animals. That question has to be based on objective
research, not unsubstantiated opinion.
Jerry
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