>Large die offs in the U.S. seemed to correspond with the areas  using the
> most
> neonics. Coincidence?maybe? maybe  not?<
 
Clearly, this argument was not supported by our own surveys over the first  
few years after CCD, and others have now published papers saying the same, 
that  large die-offs are not necessarily  correlated with areas of neonic  
use.  I spent part of last summer in the Canola  fields around Lethbridge, 
Canada.  Bees there appeared to thrive,  and beekeepers seemed to like getting 
both a honey crop and a pollination  fee.  
 
Large die-offs where one sees dead bees can occur in any intensely managed  
agricultural area from any number of causes, including pesticides.  But the 
 worst kills that I see and get samples from are mainly from those  
incidents involving the older, more toxic pesticides.  Keep in mind  also, just 
because a crop is grown from treated seed does not mean the crop  isn't 
'sprayed' with other pesticides.  I've seen this in the corn belt,  bees dying 
after the tractor or plane goes past spraying to control late season  insect 
pests.
 
Insecticides by definition are designed to kill insects.  The  substantive 
question is which are the best choices to minimize risk to the bee  AND to 
humans and other animals.  That question has to be  based on objective 
research, not unsubstantiated opinion.  
 
Jerry

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