Toxic Soup Killing Bees, Says U.C. Davis Researcher - EPA: We'll Get Back to You in Five Years

EPA says it will take FIVE YEARS to study and rule on pesticides suspected of causing bee colony collapse.

Ohio State University graphic

What? Hear from U.C. Davis's bee expert, Cooperative Extension apiculturist Eric Mussen, in this CBS News Report. He says the pesticide collision/collusion (including neonicotinoids) is what's killing bees. (So do leading experts around the world). Beekeepers point out the urgency of the issue to agriculture and business.
 

See Mother Jones coverage for more.

California's almond crop is at risk this year as there are not enough bees to pollinate it. In her article "Troubling Honey Bee Shortage in California Almond Orchards," U.C. Davis Entomologist Kathy Keatley Garvey says this could be the worst year yet for honey production. Almond growers should anticipate that they will have access to one third fewer bees this year, affecting almond production.

Wine grape growers across the state use neonicotinoids, one of the primary suspected culprits so far. Statewide, the California Dept. of Pesticide Regulation reports that wine grape growers applied 45,515 pounds of imidacloprid in 2010 across 194,000+ acres.

Want more details on the latest studies? See the Pesticide Action Network story here with links to the journal articles and BBC News coverage.