An even handed approach to neonics and bees:

In recent years, much concern has been expressed about the potential sub‐lethal effects of the neonicotinoid range of systemic insecticides to honey bees. These systemic insecticides have been investigated under UK field conditions, and crops have been sampled for the presence of the active substance and metabolites in pollen and nectar. The work has shown that the levels expressed are well below the toxicity levels for honey bees and, it is on this basis, that the Pesticides Safety Directorate (PSD) have approved these compounds to be used for application on certain crop seeds.

Incidents in Europe involving the neonicotinoids imidacloprid and chlothiandin impacting on honey bees have recently been observed. Whilst these have been considered to be *the result of bad practices*, beekeepers are concerned about the potential of this class of insecticidal compounds having sub‐lethal effects on honey bee health. In the light of the findings proposals should be developed to address this issue and pilot projects carried out to *determine how to measure the sub‐lethal effects of pesticides*.

FROM:

Honey bee health research concepts
Prepared by Dr David Aston NDB
Norman Carreck NDB
Dr Ivor Davis NDB Tim Lovett (President)
Paul Metcalf NDB

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