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Informed Discussion of Beekeeping Issues and Bee Biology <[log in to unmask]>
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Thu, 1 Jul 2010 17:11:13 -0600
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From Eric Mussen's Newsletter

Neonicotinoids Under Review 
 
  This spring the California 
Department of Pesticide Regulation (DPR) 
decided to request more information on the 
effects of the uses of the nitroguanidine 
class of neonicotinoids.  Specifically, they 
wish to see information on imidacloprid, 
clothianidin, thiamethoxam, and 
dinotefuran.  As you may know, imidacloprid is marketed by a very large 
number of companies.  Since the original 
patent belonged to Bayer CropScience, their 
company will be presenting data to cover the 
other distributors.  This review will cover 
282 different pesticide products registered to 
50 different registrants. 
 
  The decision to request this review 
was based on an "adverse effects disclosure" 
pertaining to imidacloprid.  There were 
twelve residue and two combination residue, 
honey and bumble bee studies of imidaclo-
prid use on a number of ornamental plants.  
The two triggering items were "high levels 
of imidacloprid in leaves and blossoms of 
treated plants, and increases in residue levels 
over time." 
 
  The bits of data that were coming in 
demonstrated that residues of imidacloprid 
in the blossoms of treated trees could 
exceed, in one case by twenty times, the 
LC 50  for a honey bee, which is estimated to 
be ? 185 ppb.  An LC 50  is the lethal concen-
tration that would be expected to kill 50 of 
100 bees consuming that dose. 
 
  The major concern relates to 
pollinator exposure, so the following uses 
were exempt from this examination: 
 
  1. gel or impregnated strips 
  2. termiticides 
  3. rodent flea control products (field) 
  4. pet spot applications 
  5. ant and cockroach baits 
  6. premise pest control 
  7. manufacturing use products. 
 
  DPR hopes to obtain residue 
analyses on nectars and pollens of treated 
agricultural crops that require pollination.  
DPR also is going to require results from 
studies designed to determine the 
consequences of having residues in the diets 
of various stages of honey bee development. 
 
  US EPA also has a review docket for 
imidacloprid under way.  In an attempt to 
better ensure a "level playing field" for the 
neonicotinoid class as a whole, EPA will be 
looking at the rest of the neonicotinoids in 
fiscal year 2012. 
 
  I have reviewed enough published 
information on neonicotinoids and honey 
bees to know that the findings are going to 
come in many shades of gray, not in black 
and white.  

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