Comments on: What is killing the bees? It's the neonicotinoids, for sure.

By: Wow

Wow — Sat, 06 May 2017 17:01:30 +0000

Irony

“How about some citations and not just “I was told so”?”
followed by
“Bee decline itself turned out to be bullshit, with numbers being higher than ever.”

By: Greg Laden

Greg Laden — Sat, 06 May 2017 16:34:00 +0000

In reply to Stephen Frost.

Stephen,

Yes, this is a science blog. And, you are a troll.

Nonetheless, it is a good idea to keep up on the latest. The post you comment on here was written three years ago, and this is a dynamically changing situation.

Here is a more recent item that should get you up to speed on what is happening:

https://phys.org/news/2016-05-deciphering-mysterious-decline-honey-bees.html

And here is some peer reviewed literature you might want to take a look at:

http://www.nature.com/nature/journal/v540/n7632/full/nature20588.html?WT.feed_name=subjects_plant-reproduction

This recent paper done in your backyard says the jury is still out, since the ban in EU is still only three years old:

http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/ps.4583/full

That will inform you, and others, but you are still probably going to remain a troll. Good luck with that!

By: Stephen Frost

Stephen Frost — Sat, 06 May 2017 15:55:44 +0000

This is a “science blog”? How about some, you know, science? How about some citations and not just “I was told so”? Bee decline itself turned out to be bullshit, with numbers being higher than ever.

By: Adam

Adam — Sat, 30 May 2015 15:47:47 +0000

The same symptom of CCD was experienced in France years ago, they labeled it “mad bee disease”. They found that a pesticide named Gaucho and Poncho produced by Bayer was to blame. It started in 1994 when French farmers started using systemic pesticide treated seeds. They banned the use of it and the Bee problem stopped.. Go figure, now it is happening here and again Bayer is involved. In 2006 we started using systemic treated seeds and now we have the problem. Got to love corporate greed and the ignorance of the general population.

By: Kristin Klein

Kristin Klein — Thu, 03 Jul 2014 23:07:39 +0000

What do we do if we’ve planted these big box plants in our gardens? How long will it take for the soil and/or other plants to recover? This is infuriating!

By: Another Week of Climate Disruption News, May 18, 2014 – A Few Things Ill Considered

Tue, 20 May 2014 13:40:03 +0000

[…] 2014/05/11: GLaden: What is killing the bees? It’s the neonicotinoids, for sure. […]

By: Greg Laden

Greg Laden — Sat, 17 May 2014 21:31:35 +0000

Maria, good points. Let me put my complaints I context. Some of my best friends are bee keepers. But the End Of Civilization level issue is not about small bee keepers or even honey producers, it is about the big contracts servicing the almond groves and such. A friend of mine grows corn in her yard to eat. When I talk about Bog Ag in Minnesota, I’m talking about corn, but not her!

By: maria

maria — Sat, 17 May 2014 18:13:34 +0000

The March Against Monsanto is May 24th in a city or town near you! If you cannot attend the march, you can go to just label it webpage and contact your legislators to let them know you want labels on gmo so you know what it is your food. http://www.mintpressnews.com/growing-support-for-march-against-monsanto/190846/

By: maria

maria — Sat, 17 May 2014 18:10:54 +0000

Greg, thank you for the article pointing out that neOnics do indeed present a problem for our pollinators;honeybees and butterflies included. I do think however that it is a bit caustic to say that honeybees are part of Big Ag although I think I understand your point.
There are many non Big Ag bee guardians, enthusiasts and just plain mashochistic folks who are now getting into beekeeping to help them out. Big Ag is enslaving the honeybee may bee more appropriate as they are doing with our entire agricultural system, i.e., gmo and roundup the franken bride and groom of monsanto creation.
We need to take back our food , implement a sound and non sensational food growing system that does not rely on toxic chemicals and laboratory created seeds that destroy the balance between soil, sun, water , plant and those that inhabit the ecosystem, including humans.
Far too Much damage has been done to our world and far too much is at stake here to allow the corporate takeover of our beloved honeybees and fellow planet inhabitants.
Big Ag can only be defeated if we the people care enough to stop them and we awaken from the slumber of ingesting too many unhealthy foods laced with lies from the industry.
The GMA and Monsanto want to keep us in the dark about what they are allowing by deregulating all kinds of nonsense. we don’t need gmo, but the industry is trying hard to sell it and to hide its effects from U.S citizens.
GMO and Neonicotinoids have both been banned in many EU and other countries around the world.
One thing folks can do is join their local March Against Monsanto happening in virtually every city and small towns around the USA and the World.
Solidarity against agricultural slavery and supporting our seed sovereignty is important more than ever if honeybees and other pollinators are going to ever have a chance. That goes for us as well.

By: anthrosciguy

anthrosciguy — Sat, 17 May 2014 00:06:55 +0000

A link via Mike the Mad Biologist covers the problems with this claim, and it sounds very sensible.

http://turbidplaque.com/2014/05/colony-collapse-disorder-more-dead-bees-more-sloppy-science/