Bees Essential For Human Species Survival

EPA file from May 2003 detailing clothianidin

But what does the chemical mean to the issue of CCD and bees?  Clothianidin belongs to the family of nicotinoids, which are also known as systemic pesticides. Systemic pesticides are effective because rather than covering the plant, the chemical is absorbed, working from the inside out, resulting in the entire plant becoming toxic. Even though corn is not a plant that needs to be pollinated, we have been taught in education for years that the act of cross-pollination can also occur with wind.  When the bees go to pollinate they run the risk of absorbing the pesticides and than bringing it back to the hive where it affects the adults, young bees and larvae.

With the EPA and Congress ignoring a potentially global issue, the Pesticide Action Network (PAN) and Beyond Pesticides decided that something had to be done in the United States as Germany, Italy and France had banned the use of neonicotinoid pesticides such as clothianidin.  Teaming up with beekeepers and scientists across the United States Why?  Well the EPA listed it they in their fact sheet, claiming that clothianidin could in fact affect the honey bees:

Creating a fact sheet PANNA.org covered the chemical clothianidin and CCD.  How the EPA can stand behind it is beyond me.  Something needs to be done regarding pesticides and bees.  Bee Movie may not have been created to describe the crisis behind the extinction of bees, however it certainly fits the role just fine.  Scientists, beekeepers and Dan Rather are urging that the EPA needs to take a better look at pesticides and honey bees before its too late.

Honey Bees and Pesticides

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