So, after all that, what we have come to is that pesticides can be found
in colonies, CCD is still not pinned down, nosema control is a
necessity, and lots of people have their opinions on what is the bedrock
problem.
My concern in this discussion is that imidacloprid was singled out as
the cause of CCD. It obviously has not been implicated as the cause, but
it is certainly not good for bees. The EPA pesticide fact sheet says that.
If the main issue is that the dosage is too high as well as its
persistence is too long that it kills bees even when applied according
to label instructions, then the government should be involved, which
brings us full circle, back to my original question.
Part of my problem with this discussion is I also know two large scale
commercial beekeepers who blamed imidacloprid as the cause of all their
problems, well before CCD, yet facts show otherwise. It is just too easy
to cover your practices with anything that may fit your template. So, if
I keep asking for concrete data, I hope you understand.
BTW, there are excellent studies on imidacloprid and its effect on bees
and bumblebees, that show a negative effect. But there are also studies
that show that normal, IAW label instructions applications show no
problem for bees.
Just in case anyone thinks I am a shill for pesticides, I have used
Sevin in the distant past and none for the past five years. My apples,
peaches and veggies go untreated. I have been a memember of the Maine
Organic Farmer's and Gardners Association and practice organic farming
(within reason. I hate cucumber beetles early in the season). If
imidacloprid is a massive bee killer, I am all for putting it off the
market. But, as noted, what I have seen is the opposite. It was not
imidacloprid but the beekeeper.
Bill Truesdell
Bath, Maine
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