On Sat, Mar 23, 2013 at 2:21 AM, Stellio Matson <[log in to unmask]>wrote: > > http://www.bayercropscience.co.uk/assets/Uploads/Poncho-EIS3.pdf > > "No risk management necessary. When used according to the label, > Poncho [clothandin] poses no unacceptable risk to earthworms." > > > https://www.syngenta-crop.co.uk/products/cruisersb/environmental-information.aspx > > "CRUISER SB [thiamethoxam,]is of low toxicity to earthworms. No risk > management is necessary as the risk to earthworms is low." > > http://www.bayercropscience.com.au/resources/uploads/Bulletin/file7890.pdf > > "Gaucho [imidacloprid] is applied to the seed prior to planting and does > not come into contact with beneficial species such as spiders, ants or > earthworms." > I wish you would dig a little deeper than the claims made by the insecticide manufacturers, Paul. I notice that Randy qualified himself regarding the harm that neonicotinoids pose to earthworms. How can you shoot or drill into soil, with varying percentages of sharp sand, without abrading the seed coating? Just air is blowing off toxic dust, going into soil is going to remove move. Now mind you this material is still available to the rootlets, but also to the general soil environment. With potato sets that are soaked in a solution, perhaps this is much less. In fact, I am a bit surprised that the seed companies are not investigating soaking and then quick drying (before germination) as an alternative for dust prevention. But I find Bill's arguments about point source application completely specious. Water, tillage, and crop residue all move long lasting materials around in the soil. Regarding worms: Impact of imidacloprid residues on the development of< i> Eisenia fetida</i> during vermicomposting of greenhouse plant waste<http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0304389411008521> the full paper here: http://www.researchgate.net/publication/51507621_Impact_of_imidacloprid_residues_on_the_development_of_Eisenia_fetida_during_vermicomposting_of_greenhouse_plant_waste/file/d912f505b0e0b8b473.pdf Assessment of the effects of imidacloprid on the behavior of two earthworm species (< i> Aporrectodea nocturna</i> and< i> Allolobophora icterica</i>) using 2D …<http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0147651305000321> the full paper here: [PDF] from inra.fr<http://www.prodinra.inra.fr/prodinra/pinra/data/2011/04/PROD20063572c7a_20110414103711279.pdf> *********************************************** The BEE-L mailing list is powered by L-Soft's renowned LISTSERV(R) list management software. For more information, go to: http://www.lsoft.com/LISTSERV-powered.html