There is a lot of controversy about the impact of neonicotinoids, a class of insecticides related to nicotine, on the bee population. The neonicotinoids have been implicated as one of the causes of the general decline in both the honey bee and bumblebee populations. Evidence against these poisons has reached a level where the Europeans, as a matter of precaution, have placed a two year ban on several of them, including imidacloprid from Bayer CropScience, currently the worlds most used pesticide. It may be found in many a garden shed under the name confidor.
Needless to say, Bayer is not happy about the ban. It and other producers of neonicotinoid poisons are busily lobbying the Europeans to drop the ban claiming that the evidence is not strong enough to justify it. The ban came into effect in April this year. Two months later, in the Journal of Applied Ecology, Prof. Dave Goulson of Sussex University published a review of these poisons and the potential environmental risks they pose. Far from quieting concerns this review has actually broadened the scope of potentially damaging environmental impacts of this group of chemicals. The poor old bee is only one of many it seems.
If you are keen to see Europe stick to its ban please visit the avaaz web site and sign the petition.
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