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posted by janrinok on Sunday March 04 2018, @02:18AM   Printer-friendly
from the time-to-act dept.

European agency concludes controversial 'neonic' pesticides threaten bees

Controversial insecticides known as neonicotinoids pose a danger to wild bees and managed honey bees, the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) in Parma, Italy, said in a report released today. Bayer, a maker of so-called neonics, disputed EFSA's findings. But the report is likely to give a boost to those pushing for tighter European regulation of the chemicals.

"This report certainly strengthens the case for further restrictions on neonicotinoid use," entomologist Dave Goulson of the University of Sussex in Brighton, U.K., said in a statement. The European Commission last year proposed—but has not yet adopted—extending a partial ban on neonics to all field crops.

Related: Landmark Study: Honeybee Queens Severely Affected by Neonicotinoid Pesticides
Neonicotinoid Can Cause Brain Damage in Bats; Bumblebee Species Added to Endangered List
Extensive Study Concludes Neonicotinoid Pesticides Harm Bees
Lithium Chloride May Help in Fixing Bee Colony Collapse Disorder


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  • (Score: 1) by GreatOutdoors on Sunday March 04 2018, @06:12PM (5 children)

    by GreatOutdoors (6408) on Sunday March 04 2018, @06:12PM (#647684)

    So you are telling me that a product that was designed to kill insects.... Actually works!?!?
    Who would've thought?

    I understand that technology is important at maintaining our food supply, but if we do kill off most of the bees in the world, we will starve. Period.

    --
    Yes, I did make a logical argument there. You should post a logical response.
  • (Score: 1) by GreatOutdoors on Sunday March 04 2018, @06:14PM

    by GreatOutdoors (6408) on Sunday March 04 2018, @06:14PM (#647686)

    Aye... Should have previewed it. Was supposed to be "Whoa Really"

    --
    Yes, I did make a logical argument there. You should post a logical response.
  • (Score: -1, Troll) by Anonymous Coward on Sunday March 04 2018, @07:17PM (3 children)

    by Anonymous Coward on Sunday March 04 2018, @07:17PM (#647697)

    Only about 1/6 of the crops need bees, and most of that is not high-volume stuff.

    All of the major staples are wind pollinated, self-pollinated, or not in need of pollination at all.

    To pick an example from each category: there will be no shortage of corn, tomatoes, or bananas.

    • (Score: 3, Informative) by frojack on Sunday March 04 2018, @07:40PM (2 children)

      by frojack (1554) on Sunday March 04 2018, @07:40PM (#647703) Journal

      I can assure you tomatoes need pollination, or they won't set fruit.

      https://www.buzzaboutbees.net/bees-pollinate-tomatoes.html [buzzaboutbees.net]

      --
      No, you are mistaken. I've always had this sig.
      • (Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Sunday March 04 2018, @11:26PM

        by Anonymous Coward on Sunday March 04 2018, @11:26PM (#647773)

        Wasps and flies do the most to pollinate my tomatos. The few honeybees I see are always crawling on the mints and onions. Bumblebees don't usually touch the tomatos, but they seem to like the more open tomatillo flowers, and visit pretty much everything else.

      • (Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Monday March 05 2018, @07:38AM

        by Anonymous Coward on Monday March 05 2018, @07:38AM (#647898)

        Tomatoes are grown in shipping containers on the northern shore of Alaska.

        Yes, they need pollination. No, they don't need bees.

        Put a potted tomato plant in your bathroom. Get tomatoes.