Befuddled Bumble Bees

Finally. Scientific evidence to prove what we knew all along! (Please note the sarcasm)

The first study on bee decline conducted in the natural habitat was featured in the journal, Science, this past weekend. Results have revealed that common crop pesticides have been shown for the first time to seriously harm bees by damaging their ability to navigate. The new research strongly links the pesticides to the serious decline in honey bee numbers in the US and UK — a drop of around 50 per cent in the last 25 years (yeah, kind of a big deal). These losses pose a threat to food supplies as bees pollinate a full third of the food humans regularly eat, such as tomatoes, potatoes, beans, apples and strawberries.

Researchers found that bees consuming one pesticide suffered an 85 per cent loss in the number of queens their nests produced, while another study showed a doubling in "disappeared" bees — those that failed to return from food foraging trips. The significance of the new work, is that it is the first carried out in realistic, open-air conditions. Trivial effects had been observed in lab and greenhouse experiments, but this new research has added clout, illustrating how these effects can translate to huge consequences in the field.

The reason for the huge decline in bee numbers has remained uncertain, but pesticides, the varroa mite and other parasites, and destruction of the flower-rich habitats in which bees feed have been believed to be the key reasons. Pesticide manufacturers and the UK government deny a class of the chemicals called neonicotinoids cause significant problems for bees (ahem. not so surprising), but Germany, Italy and France have suspended key insecticides over such fears.

A spokesperson from Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) said the new research did not change the government's position. 'The UK has a robust system for assessing risks from pesticides and all the evidence shows neonicotinoids do not pose an unacceptable risk to honeybees when products are used correctly. However, we will not hesitate to act if presented with any new evidence.'

I've always been a proponent of the precautionary principle, myself...