Sunday, September 15, 2013

Pesticides as a Hazard to Bees

 
 
 


An article written by Alan Boyle, science editor, NBC News on August 15th, 2013 stated that the EPA has issued new labels prohibiting the use of some controversial pesticides which contained neonicotinoids(organic compounds) where bees may be present. It is believed that the pesticides are contributing to the decline of the bee colony. There has been a tremendous decline in bees around the world and most insecticide manufacturing companies are investing millions of dollars in their R&D departments so that they can meet federal standards.  The EPA has issued new labels prohibiting products containing Imidacloprid, dinotefuran, chlothianidin, and thiamethoxam (which are the four most widely used neonicotinoids) in order to save the bees.

 
Imidacloprid---IUPAC name

 
 
N-{1-[(6-Chloro-3-pyridyl)methyl]-4,5-dihydroimidazol-2-yl}nitramide


 

1 comment:

  1. Monarch butterflies are affected by these pesticides also unfortunately. That could be part of the drive for the ongoing research now on creating synthetic yet naturally occurring pesticides like pheromones. These are the chemicals that an animal secretes and uses to communicate with others of the same species, and can be used to manipulate the behavior of the insect that is harming the crops (http://www.unce.unr.edu/publications/files/ag/other/fs9841.pdf). With more natural alternatives replacing the toxic pesticides, perhaps the bee colonies and monarch butterfly populations can be spared.

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