Neonicotinoids
History:
Neonicotinoids were introduced in the early 1990’s to replace older, more harmful pesticides. Neonicotinoids, meaning new nicotine-like insecticides, are used to fight off insects by being injected, dusted or sprayed onto plants. Since their introduction, studies have linked neonicotinoids to the collapse of pollinating insect populations, including bees and butterflies. This caused the pesticide to be banned in Europe in 2003. Neonicotinoids are toxic to insects and often fatal. Pollinating insects absorb the pesticide when they land on or ingest the contaminated plants. The chemical goes into the body and is spread throughout their central nervous system, impairing their ability to find their way home, pollinate flowers, fly, and forage for nectar and pollen (mercola.com). It can also block nerve impulses, resulting in paralysis and death. When the pesticide is sprayed onto plants, compared to being dusted or injected, it's even more lethal, killing ground nesting bees and their eggs. (citybugs.tamu.edu).
To ban or not to ban?:
Currently, neonicotinoids continue to be overused by farmers and backyard growers. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife service has begun phasing by out the useage on federal land but, the negative effects of the neonicotinoids are still seen. Ignorance about the issue has led to people overusing the chemical at the rate of 12-120 times greater than the recommended single application. Neonicotinoids can be found in the soil up to 6 years after application (EPA). Due to the over use of neonicotinoids it has been found in waterways near application site, making it even easier for pollinating insects to be affected by it. Farmers and gardeners continue to advocate for the use of neonicotinoids while scientists and environmentalists, including the environmental protection agency and the U.S Fish and Wildlife service, hope to ban chemical use in the United States. Unlike other pesticides, neonicotinoids are systemically absorbed and transported to all parts of the plants. It's also more water soluble than other current pesticides (xerces.com). These abilities makes them more effective at keeping away insects, causing them to be the preferred pesticide for growers. Groups advocating to ban the use of neonicotinoids believe the negative effects outweigh the positive. It's believed to revive our pollinating insect population, we must get rid of the use of this pesticide.
While many organizations are currently pushing to ban the use of this deadly pesticide they have yet to succeed, leaving the power in the agricultural industry and the largest manufacturers of neonicotinoids, Syngenta and Bayer. So far, the European Union has been the only group to successfully ban the use of neonicotinoids, while groups from other countries, including the United States and Canada, are still fighting too. Neither country has lobby groups pressuring the government to ban neonicotinoids, but they do have lobby groups fighting to continue to use the pesticide. Both Syngenta and Bayer are aggressively fighting to keep neonicotinoids in use. They have even sued the government to prevent the ban on them. Groups like the EPA have guidelines for the use of the pesticide, but with little government support, it's rarely enforced, allowing farmers to do as they please. As more studies are being conducted on the effects of neonicotinoids, it's believed that over time they will begin to be banned or have stricter regulations placed upon them, but currently they continue to be used.
Bees and Neonicotinoids:
Those lobbying for stronger regulation or even the possible banning of neonicotinoids argue that the pesticide is harming insect populations. The most impactful argument supporting this is the recent decline in pollinating species, specifically bees and butterflies. Neonicotinoids have been linked to causing navigating problems in the insects, resulting in them being unable to locate food and their colony. The pesticide has also been proven to block nerve impulses, leading to paralysis and even death.
Neonicotinoids and other pesticides have also been listed as a possible cause in the decline of the rusty patched bumblebee, causing it to be the first bee species to be added to the endangered species list (EPA). Once prevalent throughout all of North America, the bee is now only found in 13 states along the east coast and Midwest of the United States, as well as Ontario, Canada. The range and number of colonies has decreased by 87% since the late ‘90s. There has been a rise in sales of plants like milkweed and lilac, both known to help pollinating insects, which indicates there are people willing to help. Many people believe just planting more bee friendly plants will be enough to bring back to Rusty patched bumblebee, the plants will help, but banning neonicotinoids is the solution.
Bees in Wisconsin
Wisconsin’s honeybee colony die-off rates are among the highest in the nation, at around 60 percent in 2015, while beekeeper surveys show that 15 percent is generally considered the acceptable loss rate. In 2015, the state passed the Pollinator Protection Plan, which encourages voluntary actions such as increasing their roadside plantings and pollinator friendly home gardens. However, the plan sets no targets for decreasing the use of neonicotinoids, which attacks the insects’ brains. The act is also highly criticized, as it only encourages voluntary actions, leading critics to deem it a pointless effort. (Ceraso).
Citations:
Bates, Dominic. "Who Is Winning the PR Battle over Neonicotinoids?" Sustainable Food. Guardian News and Media, 19 Mar. 2015. Web. 08 Feb. 2017.
Ceraso, Marion. "Critics: State's Plan to save Bees Provides Little Protection from Pesticides." WisconsinWatch.org. N.p., 08 May 2016. Web. 24 Feb. 2017.
Clarke, Sophia. "First Time In US: Bumblebee Species Enters Endangered Species List." The Missouri Injury Blog. N.p., 14 Jan. 2017. Web. 03 Feb. 2017.
"Colony Collapse Disorder." EPA. Environmental Protection Agency, 16 Sept. 2016. Web. 03 Feb. 2017.
Macdonald, Alistair. "Neonicotinoids." Neonicotinoids. N.p., n.d. Web. 03 Feb. 2017.
Mercola, Joseph, Dr. "Study: Pesticides Are Creating Pollination Problems and Killing Bees." Mercola.com. Mercola, 30 Aug. 2016. Web. 06 Feb. 2017.
"Milkweed Alone Will Not Bring Back the Monarch Butterflies (It's the Pesticides, Stupid)." NRDC. N.p., 15 Dec. 2016. Web. 03 Feb. 2017.
"The Xerces Society » Neonicotinoids and Bees." The Xerces Society » Neonicotinoids and Bees. N.p., 2015. Web. 02 Feb. 2017.
Venture, The Monarch Joint. "Pesticides." MJV News RSS. N.p., n.d. Web. 03 Feb. 2017.
"What Is a Neonicotinoid?" Insects in the City. N.p., n.d. Web. 03 Feb. 2017.
History:
Neonicotinoids were introduced in the early 1990’s to replace older, more harmful pesticides. Neonicotinoids, meaning new nicotine-like insecticides, are used to fight off insects by being injected, dusted or sprayed onto plants. Since their introduction, studies have linked neonicotinoids to the collapse of pollinating insect populations, including bees and butterflies. This caused the pesticide to be banned in Europe in 2003. Neonicotinoids are toxic to insects and often fatal. Pollinating insects absorb the pesticide when they land on or ingest the contaminated plants. The chemical goes into the body and is spread throughout their central nervous system, impairing their ability to find their way home, pollinate flowers, fly, and forage for nectar and pollen (mercola.com). It can also block nerve impulses, resulting in paralysis and death. When the pesticide is sprayed onto plants, compared to being dusted or injected, it's even more lethal, killing ground nesting bees and their eggs. (citybugs.tamu.edu).
To ban or not to ban?:
Currently, neonicotinoids continue to be overused by farmers and backyard growers. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife service has begun phasing by out the useage on federal land but, the negative effects of the neonicotinoids are still seen. Ignorance about the issue has led to people overusing the chemical at the rate of 12-120 times greater than the recommended single application. Neonicotinoids can be found in the soil up to 6 years after application (EPA). Due to the over use of neonicotinoids it has been found in waterways near application site, making it even easier for pollinating insects to be affected by it. Farmers and gardeners continue to advocate for the use of neonicotinoids while scientists and environmentalists, including the environmental protection agency and the U.S Fish and Wildlife service, hope to ban chemical use in the United States. Unlike other pesticides, neonicotinoids are systemically absorbed and transported to all parts of the plants. It's also more water soluble than other current pesticides (xerces.com). These abilities makes them more effective at keeping away insects, causing them to be the preferred pesticide for growers. Groups advocating to ban the use of neonicotinoids believe the negative effects outweigh the positive. It's believed to revive our pollinating insect population, we must get rid of the use of this pesticide.
While many organizations are currently pushing to ban the use of this deadly pesticide they have yet to succeed, leaving the power in the agricultural industry and the largest manufacturers of neonicotinoids, Syngenta and Bayer. So far, the European Union has been the only group to successfully ban the use of neonicotinoids, while groups from other countries, including the United States and Canada, are still fighting too. Neither country has lobby groups pressuring the government to ban neonicotinoids, but they do have lobby groups fighting to continue to use the pesticide. Both Syngenta and Bayer are aggressively fighting to keep neonicotinoids in use. They have even sued the government to prevent the ban on them. Groups like the EPA have guidelines for the use of the pesticide, but with little government support, it's rarely enforced, allowing farmers to do as they please. As more studies are being conducted on the effects of neonicotinoids, it's believed that over time they will begin to be banned or have stricter regulations placed upon them, but currently they continue to be used.
Bees and Neonicotinoids:
Those lobbying for stronger regulation or even the possible banning of neonicotinoids argue that the pesticide is harming insect populations. The most impactful argument supporting this is the recent decline in pollinating species, specifically bees and butterflies. Neonicotinoids have been linked to causing navigating problems in the insects, resulting in them being unable to locate food and their colony. The pesticide has also been proven to block nerve impulses, leading to paralysis and even death.
Neonicotinoids and other pesticides have also been listed as a possible cause in the decline of the rusty patched bumblebee, causing it to be the first bee species to be added to the endangered species list (EPA). Once prevalent throughout all of North America, the bee is now only found in 13 states along the east coast and Midwest of the United States, as well as Ontario, Canada. The range and number of colonies has decreased by 87% since the late ‘90s. There has been a rise in sales of plants like milkweed and lilac, both known to help pollinating insects, which indicates there are people willing to help. Many people believe just planting more bee friendly plants will be enough to bring back to Rusty patched bumblebee, the plants will help, but banning neonicotinoids is the solution.
Bees in Wisconsin
Wisconsin’s honeybee colony die-off rates are among the highest in the nation, at around 60 percent in 2015, while beekeeper surveys show that 15 percent is generally considered the acceptable loss rate. In 2015, the state passed the Pollinator Protection Plan, which encourages voluntary actions such as increasing their roadside plantings and pollinator friendly home gardens. However, the plan sets no targets for decreasing the use of neonicotinoids, which attacks the insects’ brains. The act is also highly criticized, as it only encourages voluntary actions, leading critics to deem it a pointless effort. (Ceraso).
Citations:
Bates, Dominic. "Who Is Winning the PR Battle over Neonicotinoids?" Sustainable Food. Guardian News and Media, 19 Mar. 2015. Web. 08 Feb. 2017.
Ceraso, Marion. "Critics: State's Plan to save Bees Provides Little Protection from Pesticides." WisconsinWatch.org. N.p., 08 May 2016. Web. 24 Feb. 2017.
Clarke, Sophia. "First Time In US: Bumblebee Species Enters Endangered Species List." The Missouri Injury Blog. N.p., 14 Jan. 2017. Web. 03 Feb. 2017.
"Colony Collapse Disorder." EPA. Environmental Protection Agency, 16 Sept. 2016. Web. 03 Feb. 2017.
Macdonald, Alistair. "Neonicotinoids." Neonicotinoids. N.p., n.d. Web. 03 Feb. 2017.
Mercola, Joseph, Dr. "Study: Pesticides Are Creating Pollination Problems and Killing Bees." Mercola.com. Mercola, 30 Aug. 2016. Web. 06 Feb. 2017.
"Milkweed Alone Will Not Bring Back the Monarch Butterflies (It's the Pesticides, Stupid)." NRDC. N.p., 15 Dec. 2016. Web. 03 Feb. 2017.
"The Xerces Society » Neonicotinoids and Bees." The Xerces Society » Neonicotinoids and Bees. N.p., 2015. Web. 02 Feb. 2017.
Venture, The Monarch Joint. "Pesticides." MJV News RSS. N.p., n.d. Web. 03 Feb. 2017.
"What Is a Neonicotinoid?" Insects in the City. N.p., n.d. Web. 03 Feb. 2017.