> > Why hasn't this inexpensive pesticide residue screening been > > done? Bob Harrison wrote: > Surely you are not suggesting no pesticide residue will be found? No, several pesticides might be found in miniscule trace amounts (parts per billion). Miniscule amounts like that in the honey / pollen of CCD affected hives wouldn't stop ants, moths, beetles, flies and healthy honeybees from robbing. Much higher amounts would be needed to stop the robbing. Pesticide residue screening could quickly and inexpensively tell us whether or not the honey / pollen in the comb of CCD affected hives is contaminated with more than miniscule trace amounts of any particular pesticide. I think it is important to know what chemical is stopping the robbing and whether or not it is a commonly used pesticide. > The big question which big Ag studders when asked: > The top suspect chemical (beekeepers fear) lists 12 > insects it will kill . Kill by those insects visiting the plant. > Some of those are tough to kill insects my entomologist > friends tell me. However the chemical company says > the chemical will not in any way harm insects like honey > bees and butterflies which also visit those plants. Bob, I don't have alot of experience with imidacloprid but my understanding is that when used as a seed dressing, the imidacloprid accumulates in the plant tissue and kills visiting insects that suck on the tissues (aphids, whiteflies, leaf and planthoppers, thrips, scales, mealy bugs, psyllids etc.). According to Bayer, only miniscule parts per billion traces of imidacloprid accumulate in the nectar / pollen so visiting bees and butterflies are not harmed even though they are inherently more susceptible to insecticides compared to the whiteflies, thrips, etc. Paul Cherubini El Dorado, Calif. ****************************************************** * Full guidelines for BEE-L posting are at: * * http://www.honeybeeworld.com/bee-l/guidelines.htm * ******************************************************