Overview
Pest control on crops is UNLIKELY to cause so-called Bee Colony Collapse Disorder.
Research now shows that the effects of insecticide are NOT AS SEVERE AS FIRST THOUGHT.
The calculations made in PREVIOUS RESEARCH were FLAWED.
Scientists from the University of Exeter and Food and Environment Agency highlight FLAWS in PREVIOUS RESEARCH ( published in the journal Science, April 2012 ) that predicted that neonicotinoid insecticides could cause so-called Bee Colony Collapse Disorder.
Researchers know that neonicotinoids affect honey bees, but there is NO EVIDENCE that they could cause so-called Bee Colony Collapse Disorder.
The Myth of
Bees & Pesticides
Pesticides Hurting Bees
Is A MYTH
University of Exeter
The University of Exeter is a public research university located in South West England.
In the most recent UK Research Assessment Exercise ( 2008 ), nearly 90 per cent of Exeter’s research was rated as being at internationally recognised levels.
17 per cent of the submitted research was rated 4 ( « world-leading » ). 16 of the 31 subjects evaluated were ranked in the top 10, with 27 in the top 20.
Pesticides Not Yet Proven Guilty Of Causing Honey Bee Declines
According to a paper in the journal Science …
The impact of crop pesticides on honey bee colonies is UNLIKELY to cause colony collapse.
More research is now needed to predict the impact of widely-used agricultural insecticides, called neonicotinoids, on honey bee populations.
Scientists from the University of Exeter and Food and Environment Agency highlight FLAWS in PREVIOUS RESEARCH ( published in Science, April 2012 ) that predicted that neonicotinoids could cause Bee Colony Collapse Disorder.
Neonicotinoids are among the most widely-used agricultural insecticides and honey bees ingest residues of the pesticides as they gather nectar and pollen from treated plants.
The previous research has been cited by scientists, environmentalists, and policy-makers as so-called evidence of the future impact of these pesticides on honey bees.
It is likely that the research was instrumental in the French government’s recent decision to ban the use of thiamethoxam, a neonicotinoid that is the active ingredient of Cruiser OSR, a pest control product produced by the Swiss company Syngenta.
However, the new paper argues that the calculations made in PREVIOUS RESEARCH were FLAWED because they failed to reflect the rate at which honey bee colonies recover from losing individuals.
The PREVIOUS RESEARCH, led by French scientist Mikaël Henry, showed that the death rate of bees increased when they drank nectar laced with a neonicotinoid pesticide, thiamethoxam.
PREVIOUS RESEARCH calculated that this would cause their colony to collapse.
The research published today explains how the calculation may have used an INAPPROPRIATELY LOW BIRTH RATE.
Lead author Dr. James Cresswell of Biosciences at the University of Exeter said ―
We know that neonicotinoids affect honey bees, but there is NO EVIDENCE that they could cause colony collapse.
When we repeated the previous calculation with a realistic birth rate, the risk of colony collapse under pesticide exposure disappeared.
I am definitely not saying that pest control products are harmless to honey bees, but I think everyone wants to make decisions based on sound evidence ― and our research shows that the effects of thiamethoxam are NOT AS SEVERE AS FIRST THOUGHT.
We do not yet have definitive evidence of the impact of these insecticides on honey bees, and we should not be making any decisions on changes to policy on their use.
It is vital that more research is conducted so that we can understand the real impact of neonicotinoids on honey bees, so governments can put together a proper plan to protect them from any dangers that the chemicals pose.
Background Information from
an Independent Perspective
Exposing Misconceptions About the
Imaginary Threat of Pest Control Products
CropLife Canada – Facts About Honey Bee Health and Pesticides
Agriculture Protects Pollinators
POLLINATORS in Canada, such as HONEY BEES and WILD BEES, pollinate many fruits, vegetables, field crops such as canola, and flower gardens.
They are an essential part of a robust agricultural system.
Honey bee health can be affected by a number of different factors, including parasites ( such as the Varroa mite ), disease, and other stress factors ( such as habitat loss, poor nutrition, climate change, and chemical exposure ).
The AGRICULTURE INDUSTRY HAS A VESTED INTEREST IN PROTECTING POLLINATORS and is committed to thoroughly researching and protecting bee health.
CropLife Canada – Facts About Honey Bee Health and Pesticides
What Is Causing Elevated Over-Wintering Honey Bee Losses In Canada ?
Over the past four or five years, OVER-WINTERING HONEY BEE LOSSES HAVE BEEN HIGHER THAN NORMAL ( in the range of 20 to 40 per cent nationally, compared to the more typical 15 per cent ).
Losses of bee colonies have been VARIABLE among the provinces.
RESEARCHERS HAVE NOT IDENTIFIED A SINGLE CAUSE OF THESE LOSSES.
Recent scientific research points toward a combination of PARASITIC MITES ( specifically the Varroa mite ) and PATHOGENS ( such as Nosema and viral diseases ) as MAIN FACTORS.
Other possible factors include …
… lack of genetic diversity, climate change, pest control products, and stress-inducers such as colony transport, poor nutrition, weather, and starvation.
Nonetheless, early Canadian figures from 2011/2012 indicate a SIGNIFICANT IMPROVEMENT IN OVER-WINTERING LOSSES, likely due to the mild winter and better disease control.
FORCE OF NATURE — MYTH-BUSTING — BEE COLONY COLLAPSE DISORDER — 2010 03 29 — WINTER THE TRUE CAUSE ( Report )
FORCE OF NATURE — MYTH-BUSTING — BEE COLONY COLLAPSE DISORDER — CAUSES — PESTICIDE MYTH ( Report )
CropLife Canada – Facts About Honey Bee Health and Pesticides
What Is Bee Colony Collapse Disorder ( BCCD ) ?
Numerous bee-keeping experts believe that Bee Colony Collapse Disorder ( BCCD ) symptoms have not been reported in Canada.
Bee Colony Collapse Disorder is a term used to describe a very specific set of symptoms, characterized by the SUDDEN DISAPPEARANCE OF WORKER BEES from a colony, leaving behind an apparently healthy queen and brood.
RESEARCHERS HAVE NOT BEEN ABLE TO IDENTIFY A SINGLE CAUSE OF BEE COLONY COLLAPSE DISORDER.
Most experts agree that, in recent years, pollinator health decline is the result of a COMBINATION OF FACTORS, including parasitic mites and diseases.
Many researchers suspect that INVASIVE PARASITIC MITES have WEAKENED BEES’ DEFENSES, making them more susceptible to diseases or other environmental factors.
Bee Colony Collapse Disorder is a separate issue from over-wintering losses and acute poisonings.
While some over-wintering loss is normal, the levels experienced by some professional beekeepers in various parts of the world over the past seven years have raised concerns.
CropLife Canada – Facts About Honey Bee Health and Pesticides
How Are Pest Control Products Regulated To Ensure They Do Not Harm Bees ?
All pest control products go through a RIGOROUS TESTING PROCESS to ensure THEY CAN BE USED WITHOUT CAUSING HARM TO HUMANS OR THE ENVIRONMENT.
This process includes more than 200 SEPARATE STUDIES that test a range of health and environmental impacts, including effects on bees.
The results of these studies help determine the instructions for use that appear on the product label.
As scientific information evolves, pest control products are continuously re-evaluated to ensure they meet the latest safety standards.
FORCE OF NATURE — THE WISDOM OF HEPWORTH — 2012 03 21 — CANADIAN CANCER SOCIETY USING FEAR TACTICS — GRAND FORKS, BRITISH COLUMBIA ( Report )
FORCE OF NATURE — THE WISDOM OF HEPWORTH — 2012 02 10 — ADDRESSING REAL PROBLEMS — MANITOBA ( Report )
FORCE OF NATURE — THE WISDOM OF HEPWORTH — 2012 01 23 — PESTICIDE USE CAN BE SAFE & EFFECTIVE ( Report )
FORCE OF NATURE — THE WISDOM OF HEPWORTH — 2011 12 15 — THE DISCOVERY OF A PESTICIDE – FROM LAB TO LABEL ( Report )
CropLife Canada – Facts About Honey Bee Health and Pesticides
Is There Any Connection Between Neonicotinoid Insecticides and Long-Term Honey Bee Losses In Canada ?
There is NO EVIDENCE TO SUGGEST A LINK between neonicotinoid insecticides and long-term honey bee losses in Canada.
There is NO GEOGRAPHICAL CORRELATION between long-term bee losses and insecticide use.
Although some neonicotinoid insecticides are toxic to bees upon direct contact ( as are many insecticides ), they are used in a way that MINIMIZES ANY DIRECT EXPOSURE TO BEES.
Under normal field use, THE EXPOSURE TO BEES IS AT VERY LOW LEVELS, FAR TOO LOW TO CAUSE HARMFUL EFFECTS.
Independent, long-term, controlled field tests have repeatedly shown NO EFFECTS on bee mortality, weight gain, worker longevity, brood development, honey yield, and over-winter survival relative to bees in areas where treated seed was not used.
Many of these studies have been published in peer-reviewed journals and presented at international conferences.
For example, a recent Canadian study by G. Christopher Cutler and Cynthia D. Scott-Dupree was published in the Journal of Economic Entomology, 100(3): pages 765-772 (2007).
CropLife Canada – Facts About Honey Bee Health and Pesticides
What About Recent Studies That Claim Neonicotinoid Insecticides Are A Principle Cause Of Pollinator Decline ?
The weight of the scientific evidence clearly shows that neonicotinoid insecticides DO NOT AFFECT LONG-TERM COLONY HEALTH.
A few recent studies have claimed some impact on bees, but a careful evaluation of the research shows SIGNIFICANT ERRORS were made in the experimental design, or INCORRECT CONCLUSIONS were drawn from the data.
Unfortunately, these studies have received wide media attention.
FORCE OF NATURE — MYTH-BUSTING — BEE COLONY COLLAPSE DISORDER — IMIDACLOPRID — HISTORY ( Report )
FORCE OF NATURE — MYTH-BUSTING — BEE COLONY COLLAPSE DISORDER — IMIDACLOPRID — MORE HISTORY ( Report )
FORCE OF NATURE — MYTH-BUSTING — BEE COLONY COLLAPSE DISORDER — IMIDACLOPRID — SO-CALLED THREAT ( Report )
CropLife Canada – Facts About Honey Bee Health and Pesticides
Can Agriculture And Bees Really Co-Exist ?
Bees and pest control products are VERY MUCH COMPLEMENTARY ― both are essential to the success of agriculture.
More than one-third of the world’s food production comes from crops that depend on pollination.
Modern crop protection products are critical tools that farmers use to protect their crops from potentially devastating pests.
In fact, WITHOUT PEST CONTROL PRODUCTS, the world would LOSE AT LEAST 40 PER CENT OF ITS FOOD SUPPLY.
Our industry is committed to the developing products that allow Canadian farmers to grow food in an environmentally sustainable manner.
For example, SEED TREATMENT INSECTICIDES evolved as a way to protect seeds and crops while also MINIMIZING POTENTIAL EXPOSURES of non-target insects such as bees.
Indeed, these modern seed-applied insecticides have been used for a decade WITH ALMOST NO INCIDENCES OF NEGATIVE IMPACTS ON BEES.
Only small quantities of the insecticide are needed to coat the seed, which reduces the need to spray insecticides to control insects.
In fact, in contrast to a traditional spray treatment, where 100 per cent of a field is treated, LESS THAN 1 PER CENT OF THE FIELD IS TREATED WHEN A MODERN SEED TREATMENT IS USED.
This helps to reduce the exposure of pollinators and other beneficial insects ( as well as human and environmental exposures ) throughout the growing season.
Furthermore, in Canada, the climate is such that most years TREATED SEED IS PLANTED DURING A PERIOD WHEN BEES ARE NOT ACTIVELY FORAGING.
CropLife Canada – Facts About Honey Bee Health and Pesticides
What Role Do Farmers Play In Ensuring Bees Are Protected From Insecticides ?
Farmers understand the tremendous importance of pollinators to the success of modern agriculture.
During planting, farmers can limit dust when pouring seed into the planter; properly dispose of empty seeds bags; and follow manufacturer recommendations.
Growers plant only during proper weather conditions, they take precautions when planting near flowering crops and they control flowering weeds in their fields prior to planting.
CropLife Canada is the trade association representing manufacturers, developers and distributors of pest control products, including those designed specifically for urban use.
FORCE OF NATURE — MYTH-BUSTING — BEE COLONY COLLAPSE DISORDER — 2012 08 00 — FACTS ABOUT BEE HEALTH AND PESTICIDES — CROPLIFE ( Reports )
THE WISDOM OF HEPWORTH, LORNE – THE NATION'S MOST EFFECTIVE AND CONSISTENT SPOKESMAN – CROPLIFE CANADA ( Web-Page )
For the original copy of this Force Of Nature Report, go to the following link …
NORAHG has archived more information about BEE COLONY COLLAPSE DISORDER on The Pesticide Truths Web-Site …
PEST CONTROL PRODUCTS – BEE COLONY COLLAPSE DISORDER ( Web-Page )
NORAHG has archived more information on The Pesticide Truths Web-Site …
THE PESTICIDE TRUTHS WEB-SITE
PESTICIDE BANS ARE A FARCE ( Report )
VICTORIES AGAINST TERRORISTS ! – TREND TOWARDS PESTICIDE BANS HAS STOPPED ( Web-Page )
CARNAGE LEADING TO GARBAGE DUMP GREEN SPACES – WHO WANTS TO LIVE IN #@!!% PEST-INFESTED GARBAGE DUMPS ?!?! ( Web-Page )
CARNAGE LEADING TO GARBAGE DUMP GREEN SPACES ( Photo Gallery )
CARNAGE – GOLF DESTRUCTION – GOLF IS NEXT – CRITICAL ISSUES FOR THE SURVIVAL OF THE GOLF INDUSTRY ( Web-Page )
Improved & Updated
THE COMPLETE LIBRARY OF WEB-PAGES, REPORTS, & REFERENCES
PESTICIDE TRUTHS NEWSLETTER — 2012 09 18 ( Report )
SEND US YOUR PHOTOS OF GARBAGE DUMP GREEN SPACES CAUSED BY ANTI-PESTICIDE PROHIBITION …
