Bob & All
I realize that the wheels of change turn slowly especially when a chemical
company is reaping big bucks and as you wrote *solutions happen with time
BUT usually after a hugh number of hives have been lost.*  Then I guess
solutions are at hand because the problem has been evident for about 6 years
and also about 300,000 hives have been lost. Or does time and losses in
another country not count?
I suggest that Americans not take the "It doesn't concern me until I see my
own bees are dead" approach.  Remember what the fellow said as he passed the
25th floor falling from the roof of a fifty story building. "So far so
good"! It may be a short lived security.
I enjoy your entries, Bob.
Big Al
PEI, Canada

----- Original Message -----
From: "Bob & Liz" <[log in to unmask]>
To: <BEE-L>
Sent: Monday, April 16, 2001 11:06 AM
Subject: Re: Imidacloprid


> Hello Stan & All,
> Stan wrote:
>  The problem is that imidacloprid is metabolized in the bee and most can
not
>  be detected after four hours.
> This IS the reason why proving the Imidacloprid is the cause of death is
so
> very hard.  No * smoking gun*!   My brother ( lawyer) says beekeepers will
> have a hard time proving their case IF the chemical companies chose to
> fight.
> Stan wrote:
>  So sampling the bees is not effective.   The  place that is a good place
to
> look is freshly gathered maple pollen from a  pollen trap on a hive.
> Samples should be frozen and *PROTECTED FROM  SUNLIGHT*.
>
> We need a bit more information here.  Water tests alone for Imidacloprid
are
> expensive.  Approx $100 per test plus shipping to Columbia, Missouri.  Is
> there a lab testing pollen in the U.S. for Imidacloprid?  If so what are
the
> costs?  Can we send suspect samples to the EPA for free testing?  I wonder
> if state bee inspectors could be provided the equipment to test the
pollen?
> I wonder if the government bee labs could not test the pollen for
> Imidacloprid?
> Usually these solutions happen with time BUT usually after a huge number
of
> hives have been lost.
> Bob
>
>