Natural History Wanderings

Honeybees, who are critical to pollinating of both food crops and wild plants, have experienced a major population decline. The U.S. has lost approximately one-third of its honeybee hives per year.  Science Daily reports that Purdue University scientists have now identified that one of the factors is neonicotinoid insecticides which are used to coat corn and soy seeds before planting.  They reported that

“Toxicological screenings performed by Brian Eitzer, a co-author of the study from the Connecticut Agricultural Experiment Station, for an array of pesticides showed that the neonicotinoids used to treat corn and soybean seed were present in each sample of affected bees. Krupke said other bees at those hives exhibited tremors, uncoordinated movement and convulsions, all signs of insecticide poisoning.

Seeds of most annual crops are coated in neonicotinoid insecticides for protection after planting. All corn seed and about half of all soybean seed is treated.”

Scientists believe that the honeybee population decline is the result a combination of  factors. Wikipedia in its article on colony collapse disorder suggests other possibilities include Varroa mites and insect diseases, environmental change-related stresses,malnutrition, pesticides, and migratory beekeeping.

Read  more at Science Daily  Honeybee deaths linked to seed insecticide exposure.