MORE RESEARCH ON BEES AND NEONICOTONOIDS

Yesterday's Waterloo Region Record carrys this story titled "Pesticide study shows impact on bumblebee learning". The study was co-authored by a University of Guelph professor and shows that a neonicotonoid insecticide called thiamethoxam is responsible for slowing down bees in their collecting of pollen. The crop seeds are treated with the insecticide prior to being planted. Pesticide residues remain in the nectar and pollen that bees feed on.

The senior author Nigel Raine states that "If exposure to low levels of pesticide affects their ability to learn, bees may struggle to collect food and impair the essential pollination services they provide to both crops and wild plants.".

In Europe neonicotonoids have been banned altogether whereas Ontario introduced restrictions on the pesticide last year. Both Quebec and Ontario farmers are objecting to rules and restrictions on neonicotoinoids with Ontario farmers fighting the new rules in the courts.