Reverse a ban? Review the science
With the recent roll-back of the ban on neonicotinoids in national wildlife refuges, it's time to review what we know about the lethal and sub-lethal effects of these insecticides on bees. And the body of scientific knowledge is extensive.
So to make the science more accessible and easier to review, I've created this visual tool on the Bee Report to show you what we know about the effects of neonics on bees. This is an on-going project and the information will be periodically updated.
While reviewing the research, it was interesting to see how the effects grouped together. The majority of known effects fall into the categories of reproduction, foraging and physical behaviors. If this is an accurate reflection of real world impact on bees, and not an artifact of the research process, then... wow. This is troubling. Read more >
Rumor has it that you, dear reader, appreciate and enjoy the information brought to you by the Bee Report. Who among your friends and colleagues would also appreciate and enjoy reading the same info? One of the beautiful things about digital media is that it's incredibly easy to share. So I have a favor to ask: When you read something from the Bee Report that you find interesting, please share it! Twitter, Facebook, email, however you choose to connect with others. Sharing the Bee Report with your network of like-minded friends and colleagues will help this publication to grow. And as the Bee Report grows, I'll be able to cover more topics and continue telling the story of our complex relationship with bees in North America. Thanks! ~ Matt (on Twitter @bymattkelly)
Need a break for a few minutes? Check out "Pollinator Panic!", created by an interdisciplinary team at Penn State. It's a simple little strategy game where you play the part of a field researcher restoring a bee community. Seems like it would make a fun classroom tool for learning the basics of pollination networks and restoration. And it's just slightly addictive. The Bee Report high score so far: 1,980.
BEES #NEONICOTINOIDS
* Bees living in suburban habitats are still being exposed to significant levels of pesticides despite the EU ban on the use of neonicotinoid pesticides on flowering crops, new research from University of Sussex scientists shows.
* A large-scale study published by researchers from Royal Holloway University of London has drawn together the findings of a decade of agrochemical research to confirm that pesticides used in crop protection have a significant negative impact on the learning and memory abilities of bees.
* New research reveals that hummingbirds and bumble bees are being exposed to neonicotinoid and other pesticides through routes that are widespread and complex. Investigators collected bumble bees native to Canada, and their pollen, and blueberry leaves and flowers from within conventionally sprayed and organic blueberry farms.