What happens without pollinators?

Bees, such as honeybees, bumble bees, and solitary bees, are the backbone of the group of insects known as pollinators, and 35% of the world’s food crop depends on pollinators (think nuts, seeds, grasses that are fed to animals, and many fruits and vegetables).[fn value=2][/fn] In other words, at least one in three mouths are fed by food that requires pollinators.[fn value=3][/fn]

Why are the bees dying off?

A leading hypothesis is that an incredibly prevalent group of pesticides, collectively known as neonicotinoids, are largely responsible for the poisoning of pollinator insects. Research has since shown that there are numerous ways in which bees are exposed to these dangerous chemicals.

Neonicotinoids were introduced in the early 1990s and they are now one of the most commonly used insecticides in the world.[fn value=4][/fn]  These chemicals are used in large-scale agriculture because they are extremely toxic to insects and much less toxic to vertebrates.[fn value=5][/fn] Crops commonly treated with neonicotinoids include corn, cotton, canola, sunflower, and soy. In fact, neonicotinoids are used on almost all of the corn grown in North America, with the exception being organic corn.[fn value=6][/fn] Recent studies show that these pesticides are so ubiquitous that they are also making their way into drinking water in agricultural areas.[fn value=7][/fn]

Neonicotinoids are applied in a variety of ways including soil drenching and seed dressings.[fn value=8][/fn]  [fn value=9][/fn] The half-life of neonicotinoids can exceed 1,000 days when applied to soil, so they accumulate in the soil, and when taken up into crops they are present in the pollen and in sap droplets that form on leaves (a favorite of bees), known as guttation droplets.[fn value=10][/fn]  Even worse, not only are mature forager bees looking for pollen affected by these poisons, but they also bring contaminants back to the hive, killing young bees and nurse bees.

Currently, seed dressing is one of the most common ways these pesticides are applied.[fn value=11][/fn] When these pesticide-coated seeds are planted, it creates neonicotinoid-contaminated dust, poisoning nearby insects.[fn value=12][/fn]  Tests show the concentrations of pesticides in these dusts are much higher than the lethal dose for honeybees.[fn value=13][/fn]

What can you do?

First it should be noted that organic standards in the United States do not allow neonicotinoids, so when you purchase organic produce and other organic products you are voting for non-neonicotinoid-dependent agriculture. Buying organic animal products is another great option—neonicotinoid treated corn is fed to conventional livestock—whereas organic livestock must be fed organic corn that cannot be treated with neonicotinoids. Pasture-based animal products such as grassfed beef and pasture-based dairy are also much less reliant on neonicotinoids, as these animals are raised primarily on grasses.

Always remember to consider your impact on the environment, even when buying ornamental plants. Ask the nursery if they have a non-neonicotinoid policy (they’re sometimes called neonics) in the growing of their plants, or go to organic nurseries. Become informed. Vote with your dollar to save the bees!

For a more comprehensive review of this subject, click here.