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From:
Peter L Borst <[log in to unmask]>
Reply To:
Informed Discussion of Beekeeping Issues and Bee Biology <[log in to unmask]>
Date:
Sun, 8 Apr 2012 09:48:42 -0400
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> Hopefully the first of many studies on the subject.

It is hardly the first. This one was started in May, 2000:

"Experimental study on the toxicity of imidacloprid given in syrup to honey bee (Apis mellifera) colonies"
Jean-Paul Faucon et al.

Abstract: 

> Two groups of eight honey bee colonieswere fed with two different concentrations of imidacloprid in saccharose syrup during summer. Their development and survival were followed in parallel with control hives (unfed or fed with saccharose syrup) until the end of the following winter.

> The parameters followed were: adult bee activity (number of bee entering the hive and pollen carrying activity), adult bee population level, capped brood area, frequency of parasitic and other diseases, mortality, number of frames with brood after wintering and a global score of colonies after wintering. mortality was very low in all groups, with no difference between imidacloprid-fed and control colonies.

> Further research should now address several hypotheses: the troubles described by bee keepers have causes other than imidacloprid; if such troubles are really due to this insecticide, they may only be observed either when bees consume contaminated pollen, when no other sources of food are available, in the presence of synergic factors (that still need to be identified), with some particular races of bees or when colonies are not strong and healthy.

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