Last year I wrote about how to be good to the bees, and one of the ways is to avoid insecticides. Why? Honeybees have been suffering colony collapse disorder and new research into the cause of massive bee die-offs indicates it is related to insecticides coming from corn seeds.
Last year I wrote about how to be good to the bees, and one of the ways is to avoid insecticides. Why? Honeybees have been suffering colony collapse disorder and new research into the cause of massive bee die-offs indicates it is related to insecticides coming from corn seeds.
Colony collapse disorder has been a mystery
In recent years, beekeepers have experienced large numbers of their honeybees dying off. Though insecticides have been suspect, colony collapse disorder has baffled researchers. Until now. A new study published in the journal American Chemical Society’s Environmental Science & Technology links massive bee demise to the exposure to neonicotinoid insecticides coming from coated corn seeds.
What are neonicotinoid insecticides?
These insect killers, which are the most widely used in the world, kill insects by paralyzing their nerves. They are popular because they apparantly have lower toxicity for other animals. According to ABC News, pneumatic drilling machines spray insecticide onto seeds to create a coating before they are planted.
Corn crops a culprit
Beekeepers have observed an increase in dead honeybees around the time of corn planting utilizing the neonicotinoid insecticides.The fact that corn is widely grown for food and a renewable energy source is cause for concern. Honeybees play a vital role in pollinating food crops and if they continue to be wiped out, it could have a detrimental impact on the ecosystem.
What do you think?
More vegan news you can use!
Leave a Comment