Neonicotinoid poisons found to contribute to declining bee populations

[LordKiran]

http://www.pbs.org/newshour/rundown/neonicotinoid-pesticides-slowly-killing-bees/

Neonicotinoid pesticides are found to have longterm effects on the birthrates and lifetimes of bee colonies, contributing if not outright causing the decline in bee populations.

Article:

While many studies had connected neonicotinoids — a common class of insecticides derived from nicotine — to bee deaths in the past, few studies had examined how much pesticide is needed to harm bees or how long the exposure must take. Critics argued previous scientific studies used unrealistic quantities of pesticides in their experiments.

The new studies say the environmental levels of neonicotinoids surrounding farms do not obliterate bee colonies outright, but instead kill them over extended periods of time. The pesticides also threaten bee queens in particular — which means colonies have lower reproductive rates.

 

[Kharakov]