Randy wrote:

 > None of us doubt that any

> number of pesticides stress colonies.  What we object to is the tunnel
> vision of some who are focusing solely upon one class of insecticides
> alone, rather than looking at the larger picture.
>

While I agree that fungicides and other insecticides need to be looked at
in "the larger picture", I do not understand why it is "tunnel vision" to
look carefully at the most used insecticides today, which are ubiquitous in
the environment.  Neonics are used in PEI on potatoes, corn, and soybeans
which are three of our main crops.  The only other major crop which uses
insecticide is blueberries.  Other fruits and vegetables are pretty minor.
So, I do not see it as tunnel vision, but rather as what is most in my face
with the wide angle lens.

While the situation is California is very different with the large amounts
of other insecticide usage which can be seen in the document you sent a
link to,  I am reminded that in that document they did not record the
amounts of neonicotinoids used as seed treatments in their usage amounts,
so even in California it might be close to the top in terms of amount put
into the environment and for that reason alone worthy of focus.

Stan

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