Hello Elizabeth, Lloyd and All:
 
>> - An insecticide used on sunflowers that is "confusing" bees, so that
>their
>> homing instinct is interrupted and they cannot find the way back to the
>> beehive.  (The insecticide in question cannot be used in the US.)
 
This is not correct, to my understanding.  The original bee-l post on this
subject was Andy's post of a new clipping.  It was called "mad bee disease
in France".  The following is clipped from that posting from the old Drone:
 
>Gaucho first went on sale in 1994. The producer says Gaucho is based on
>imidaclopride, a chemical which acts on the nervous systems of a wide
>variety of pests, including wireworm and aphids. Bayer SA defends the
>product as the most widely used sunflower insecticide in France and insists
>``the accusations have no scientific foundation.'' Bayer SA French
>marketing director Bruno Feldrops says imidaclopride has been used in more
>than 70 countries and was subjected to rigorous testing.
 
Imidacloprid IS used in North America!!!!  Here in Prince Edward Island it
is sold under the brand name ADMIRE.  It is rapidly becoming one of the most
common insecticides used for potatoes.  Fortuneately bees do not visit
potatoes like they do sunflowers, but I am trying to watch for symptoms
nonetheless, as spray drift onto neighbouring fields is always a possibility.
 
Regards, Stan