New article just came out by German group on Clothianidan, a new neonicotinoid very similar to IMD used in the UK and Europe. Different name, same poison–basically.

IT STILL COMES DOWN TO PESTICIDES!

About the new research from University of Illinois that has been touted by some reports to be the beginnings of a “cure” for CCD–

“The loss of ribosomal function would explain many of the phenomena associated with CCD”, Berenbaum said.

“If your ribosome is compromised, then you can’t respond to pesticides, you can’t respond to fungal infections or bacteria or inadequate nutrition because the ribosome is central to the survival of any organism. You need proteins to survive,” – May Berenbaum, University of Illinois, co-principal investigator on the study with entomology professor and department head

This quote from:

http://www.extension.org/pages/Genomic_Study_Yields_Plausible_Cause_of_Colony_Collapse_Disorder

We are pragmatists here at Plan BEE Central. We always maintained that the bee genome is unable to defend against toxins and pesticides. This was known from previous scientific study. This genetic research says that bees are becoming more unable to process stress and pesticides.

Let us be clear–this is very important information and extremely important research and we commend those who are giving it rigorous scientific research and testing. However, if this research is only laying the foundation for genetic engineering of a pesticide resistant honeybee, this is not the “cure” we are looking for. What it should imply (and we think does imply) is the need to remove dangerous pesticides as quickly as possible from the environment.

It is only logical and reasonable that if new generations of bees are more vulnerable to pesticides then we must look at the enormous quantities of pesticide being dumped into the environment. Because of the interactive effect of pesticides with other causes as well as the enormity of the ecological impact from pesticides, we still say—we must deal with pesticide use directly and first if we want to stop CCD.

BEE Genome study implications for CCD:

www.enn.com/sci-tech/article/40395

Possible “cure” for CCD?

http://www.enn.com/

This from Apis Newsletter – August 2009

protections, please see http://www.epa.gov/pesticides/ecosystem/pollinator-protection.html <http://www.extension.org/bee%20health>

. For information about the registration review of imidacloprid, please see

http://www.epa.gov/oppsrrd1/registration_review/imidacloprid/index.htm.

http://www.extension.org/bee%20health.

This resource is worth taking a look at on a routine basis. Special links are found showing how to test for hygienic behavior and the state-of-the-art healthy bees course from the University of Minnesota. See also a review of the American Bee Research Conference held early this year in Gainesville, FL. Sustainable Beekeeping: A Best Management Practices Guide; Africanized and Feral Honey Bees; Pollination; Managed Non-Apis Bees (bumble bees, mason bees, etc.); Landscape Health; Unmanaged Beneficial Bees,

and Bee Identification Guidance. The site has also been linked to the Consumer Horticulture Community of Practice Blog http://consumerhortcop.wordpress.com/.

Altrazine—the important point is that just a few part per billion has serious impact

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/08/23/us/23water.html?_r=1&th=&emc=th&pagewanted=all

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Atrazine banned in EU, like IMD it is chlorine based but is also an estrogen disruptor and connected to cancer

EPA new plan to investigate pesticides and pollinators — very important to have public input NOW–

http://www.epa.gov/pesticides/ecosystem/pollinator-protection.html

EPA registration review of IMD — article

http://www.epa.gov/oppfead1/cb/csb_page/updates/2009/imidacloprid.html

The way the EPA has protected pollinators has been through the proper use of pesticides by following label instructions.

Admire, a commercial pesticide with a high concentration of IMD has 22 pages of instructions for “safe application”. On page 2, it clearly states that Admire is “highly toxic to honey bees” Instructions then say not to use the chemical “when bees are feeding in the field”. When are bees not feeding in the field or in nearby border areas from wild flowering plants? Bees must feed continuously in order to have the honey storage necessary to survive the winter. Are farmers able to determine when they are not feeding in the field or nearby areas? Instructions also say not to use where water run off could contaminate nearby water tables and streams. Where is there a place where there is no water run off—no nearby streams? The instructions are 22 pages total. How many farmers are going to read through 22 pages? There are no warnings not to apply fungicides that make IMD 1000 times more toxic to honeybees. Yet unknowingly, fungicides are applied along with IMD. There are warnings not to use the chemical when winds could carry residues to areas beyond. Who can predict the wind?

In light of the real conditions in the field—the EPA strategy to so mildly mandate proper management of these pesticides is, well, just not based on reality. The possibility of human error is too high.