Hello Paul & All,
Thanks for your post! I always appreciate your input.

You know far more about pesticides than I ever will.

I only looked into the neonicotinoid issue for the American Bee Journal to
inform beekeepers (and maybe others) about exactly what neonicotinoids are
in terms beekeepers can understand.

The pros in certain circles for their use are powerful such as systemic ,
deadly to most insects and easy to apply. fairly non toxic to humans unless
you drink a glassful.

The cons are they are systemic and deadly to most if not all insects
(depends on dose but buildup in soil happens causing the next seasons dose
hard to regulate.)

Systemic is what most users of the product love about the product and what
beekeepers dislike. We believe as Paul has pointed out there are better
choices of pesticides to use around honeybees.

Also I think all of us should be concerned with systemic pesticides in our
water supply. Temik was one of the first systemic pesticides and basically
was a failure. The product in liquid form kills people, Rhino or bear. The
product was found both in oranges & the water supply.

One chemical company employee said during our conversation:
" You know about temik?" "I wish you would keep to yourself"

The records of the problem on the net are fast disappearing but those
growing orange trees at the time and users of the product are still around.
The product is still available in the U.S.

Its entirely possible the new neonicotinoids will not contaminate water if
used correctly. Time will tell.

 However I think its fair to say the neonicotinoids will cause collateral
damage to both honey bees and beneficial insects. It is my *opinion* that
some in the chemical industry know this but are not interested in solving
the problem (or even making an attempt at improving the situation through
educating growers of better choices for pesticides from their arsenal.)

In the small country of France it took 120,000 dead hives to get government
and chemical company attention. The chemical company case was not good
enough to keep selling the product. FACT!

In the U.S. we have got a beekeeping family with hive numbers approaching
the above number! 2 million hives maybe at risk.

Why can't we simply sit down and work through the issue without all the
battle. Yes we need pesticides! Yes we need the bees and beneficial insects!
Has to be some common ground!


bob


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