Scientists from Harvard have succeeded in simulating honey bee colony collapse syndrome in the field, and it turns out that very small amounts of the substance that has been in common use since the XNUMXs are enough to kill the bees
The main culprit in the decrease in the number of bee colonies since 2006 is a common substance - Imidacloprid, one of the most common pesticides. This is according to a new study by the Harvard School of Public Health (HSPH). In this way, the pesticide takes the place of the most common explanation so far for the significant decrease in the number of bees - the cellular antennas. A virus discovered in Israel is also suspected of causing the syndrome.
The researchers, led by Alex Lu, professor of biological exposure to the environment in the Department of Environmental Health, wrote that the new study provides convincing evidence of a link between imidacloprid and a phenomenon known as colony collapse syndrome (CCD), in which mature bees abandon the hives. The research will appear in the June issue of the journal Bulletin of Insectology.
"The importance of bees to agriculture cannot be underestimated", tell him. "And it seems that it doesn't take much of the pesticide to affect the bees. Our experiment included amounts of the substance below that currently common in the environment."
Pointing out the source of the problem is important because the bees, apart from honey production, are the main pollinators of almost a third of the types of agricultural plants including fruits, vegetables, nuts as well as alfalfa and clover used as animal feed.
Lu and his associates hypothesize that the outbreak of Colony Collapse Syndrome is a result of the presence of imidacloprid, a neo-nicotinide that came on the market in the early XNUMXs. The bees can be exposed to the substance in two ways: through the nectar in the plants or through the high fructose corn syrup used to feed the bees. Since the corn grown in the USA is treated with imidacloprid, it is also found in the corn syrup.
In the summer of 2010, researchers conducted a field trial in Worcester County, Massachusetts, designed to simulate how imidacloprid might cause an outbreak of the syndrome. Over a period of over 23 weeks, they monitored bees in four different breeding areas. In each such area, four hives were placed that were treated with different levels of imidacloprid and one hive was used as a control. After 12 weeks of overdoses of various degrees of imidacloprid, all the bees were alive but after 23 weeks, 15 of the 16 hives that received treatment - that is, 94% of the hives, died. The bees that were exposed to higher levels of the pesticide died earlier.
"The characteristics of the dead hives were consistent with the CCD syndrome," Lu says. The hives were empty except for the food stores, some pollen and some young bees, as well as some dead bees around. When the researchers examined other conditions that could have caused the collapse of the hive, diseases or hazards - many dead bees are typically found inside and outside the damaged hives and therefore, these hives did not mimic the collapse phenomenon in full. In other words, only imidacloprid treatment caused a recurrence of all CCD features.
Disturbingly, very low levels of imidacloprid were required to cause collapse, less than what is typically used on plants or in areas where the bees forage.
Scientists, decision-makers, farmers and beekeepers have been alarmed by the loss of 30-90% of honey bee colonies since 2006, a phenomenon that has drawn countless theories as to the cause, such as pests, diseases, pesticides, migration to other areas or a combination of these factors.
For a message on the website of Harvard University
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Hello Mr. Avi Blizovsky
We are a group of scientists who have developed a selective stinger and pest trap for an agricultural environment without chemicals.
The trap is a breakthrough on a global scale that is registered as a patent. Since no pesticides of any kind are used and there is no connection to energy sources. The trap underwent field trials and proved its effectiveness. It has been operating independently for over two months without a refresh.
The damage to bees and pollinators is known. The solution we achieved deserves to be the ultimate solution to the pest control problem in the world.
We have an interest in adding any interested party to the project. We are currently in the preparation phase for production and we wish to start production before the coming summer, when the system begins to use toxic pesticides to eradicate the pests, which includes chemical pesticides with all the known damages.
The website address that contains additional information on the subject
http://www.mosquito-predator.co.il
Best regards
Haim Shahar Tel: 054-8800-123
Avi, your website and the articles are simply amazing, I don't understand how you are able to absorb, digest and translate so much material. Well done !
The commercial name is Confidor!!!!
All gardeners use it as a panacea for any pest.
We need to stop putting this poison in the gardens.
There is a link…
In case you missed it…
http://www.hsph.harvard.edu/news/press-releases/2012-releases/colony-collapse-disorder-pesticide.html
Why isn't there a link to the original article or at least a quote so we can find it????
We saw the consequences of the attempt of Brazilian scientists somewhere in the sixties to create a hybrid of a European honey bee and an African bee, what was created are large and dangerous African bees, even more nervous and very aggressive .. See the National Geographic program on the subject
From Brazil until the 90s they reached the entire American continent and up to half of the United States
These bees do not produce honey and do not help agriculture, they live (and attack) in large swarms that can reach up to 20 thousand bees in an attack, these bees are smart and if someone hides in a pond or reservoir they will wait there until they come out
Science cannot play God
And it's scary if they make another violent mistake like this here, and it won't be possible to walk around the streets because bees are nervous in large dangerous swarms and the number one cause of natural death in the US and even in the world
It is not just about allergic and sensitive people
Anyone stung by a large number of bees at once may die instantly within about an hour.
It is dangerous and in the Jerusalem area there are a lot of bees, wasps and bees
I no longer go out into nature because of this simply because it's scary
Instead, it is possible to be more creative and imitate the act of fertilization and pollination that they do by using the wind, perhaps certain air blowers,
Or improve varieties of butterflies that also pollinate flowers and trees and are not dangerous at all and even beautiful in the landscape
I'm afraid that in a few months they will create a sharp breed of bees that will get out of control again and it will be dangerous
It is also possible to develop strains of humans that are resistant to pesticides, but the main problem here is not the humans or their convenience, but the damage they cause.
Developing resistant varieties will not necessarily help us. The poison from the pesticides accumulates in the food chain and eventually reaches our stomach...
jubilee
Pesticides are indeed used in a controlled manner, but their consequences in the future cannot be predicted.
I answered
The development of resistant and successful varieties, as far as we are concerned, may also disrupt the balance in nature.
If strains resistant to this particular pesticide are developed, then these will not necessarily be resistant to the next pesticides that will be developed. The correct approach, in my opinion, is to make controlled use of pesticides
After the cause is found the next step will be to develop resistant varieties
Amazing! It seems that the mystery has been solved!!
When Seinfeld met Spielberg…
Has anyone seen the movie Bee Movie?
This film was made just as the hive collapse phenomenon was becoming clear. Is it just a coincidence?
very interesting. two points:
1. People do not estimate how much influence bees have on vegetation in general and on our menu in particular. I'm glad to hear that there is an industry research to find the causes of bee mortality.
2. Regarding the pest control, if they started using this substance only in the 90s, it probably replaces another toxic substance that was common before that. When will they realize that nature has its own defense mechanisms and does not need toxic substances. The Indians in South America plant three crops together in the fields and create a natural symbiosis without pesticides. The West needs to learn.