Washington State University:
Neonicotinoid pesticides pose low risk for honey bees
A new study shows that a suspected cause of collapsing bee populations may not be to blame. A class of pesticides known as neonicotinoids have faced closer scrutiny and criticism because some suspect they may disrupt the bees’ sense of direction. But while neonicotinoid pesticides can harm honey bees and should be used with caution, a new study by Washington State University researchers shows that the chemicals pose little risk to bees in real-world settings because bees aren’t exposed to enough to cause much harm.
With the cooperation of 92 Washington beekeepers, a team of WSU entomologists studied apiaries in urban, rural and agricultural areas in Washington state. The team collected samples of beebread, or stored pollen, from 149 apiaries across the state.
During the one-year trial, researchers looked at potential honey bee colony exposure to neonicotinoid insecticides from pollen foraging. Neonicotinoid residues were detected in fewer than 5 percent of apiaries in rural and urban landscapes, according to the study.
Two kinds of neonicotinoids — clothianidin and thiamethoxam — were found in about 50 percent of apiaries in agricultural landscapes. But the amounts were substantially less than what other studies of shown to not effect honey bees colonies.
“Based on residues we found in apiaries around Washington state, our results suggest no risk of harmful effects in rural and urban landscapes and arguably very low risks from exposure in agricultural landscapes,” said Allan Felsot, WSU Tri-Cities professor of entomology and environmental toxicology who co-authored the study.
Researchers are 10 years into the battle against Colony Collapse Disorder, which results in a colony with no adult bees and no dead bee bodies. However, a live queen, and usually honey and immature bees, are still present.
Considering the fact that bees pollinate more than $15 billion worth of U.S. crops, a healthy bee population is crucial. Bees pollinate apples, pears, cherries, peaches, plums, nuts (especially almonds), most citrus fruits, all berries, cucumbers, cantaloupes and much more.
Matthew Shakespear, who with wife Stephanie owns Olsen’s Honey and manages 15,000 hives throughout the Columbia Basin and on the West Coast, said he was not surprised by the study. “I don’t really feel like (neonicotinoids) are” an issue, Shakespear said. “I know there are other beekeepers who disagree with me on that point, and all I can say is for our operations, I have not seen (that neonicotinoids) are a problem for us.