Are Neonicotinoids Killing Bees?

The Research Behind the Claims

Presented by Scott Hoffman Black, Executive Director

The Xerces Society for Invertebrate Conservation

Photo: Rich Hatfield

Pollinators: An Ecological Keystone

Importance of Pollinators: Human Nutrition

Pollinators provide an ecosystem service that enables plants to produce fruits and seeds.

Over $18 to $27 billion value of crops in U.S. ($217 billion worldwide)
Over $600 million value of crops in Oregon

Photo: Steve Javorek, Agriculture Canada

Decline: Honey Bees

Annual hive losses 1995 to 2006: 15% 22% per year 2006 to 2013: 29% 34% per year

Photo: USDA-ARS/Scott Bauer Photo: Eric Mader

Bumble Bee Decline: Oregon Species

Range Loss 66.62% 100.00% Relative abundance decline 89.98% 84.41% Draft IUCN Rank CR CR

Bumble bee Species

Bombus suckleyi Bombus franklini

Bombus caliginosus
Bombus morrisoni

61.42% 30.62%
39.23% 34.75% 43.28%

84.18% 82.33%
75.01% 61.53% 52.70%

VU VU
VU NT NT
Photo: Rich Hatfield

Bombus occidentalis
Bombus fervidus Bombus appositus

Photo: USFWS/Brendan White Preliminary analyses by Rich Hatfield using museum specimen data from multiple sources, obtained from Leif Richardson and Sheila Colla; Photo: Mace Vaughan

Threats to Pollinators: Multiple

Bees are threatened by multiple causes:
Habitat loss Disease

Pesticides

Photo: Matthew Shepherd

Impacts of Neonicotinoid Insecticides

Imidacloprid, clothianidin, dinotefuran, and thiamethoxam are highly toxic to honey bees and bumble bees

Impacts of Neonicotinoid Insecticides

Sub-lethal levels can harm honey bees Impairs foraging ability Affects ability of queen to lay eggs Increases susceptibility to pathogens

Henry et al. 2012..Science 20:336 no. 6079; Schneider et al. 2012. PLoS ONE 7(1): e30023; V. Krischik, unpublished data; Alaux et al. 2010. Environmental Microbiology 12.

Photo: USDA-ARS/Scott Bauer

Impacts of Neonicotinoid Insecticides

Sub-lethal levels can also harm bumble bees Bumble bee colonies had 85% fewer new queens Effects on other crop pollinating native bees not well studied

Whitehorn et al. 2012..Science 20:336 no. 6079; Gill et al. 2012. Nature doi:10.1038/nature11585; Fauser-Misslin et al. In Press, Journal of Applied Ecology

Photo: Mace Vaughan

Impacts of Neonicotinoid Insecticides

Also impacting other beneficial insects

Impacts of Neonicotinoid Insecticides

Systemic mode of action This means they translocate into every part of the plant including nectar and pollen

Photo: Mace Vaughan

Impacts of Neonicotinoid Insecticides

Can be persistent for long periods in plants and soil Neonicotinoids can persist in soil for month or years after a single application Untreated plants may absorb chemical residues in soil from the previous year Measurable amounts of residues were found in woody plants up to six years after application

Paine et al. 2011. Biological Control 56(2); Bonmatin et al. 2004. Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry; Doering et al 2004. Bayer CropScience AG. Report No. G201806

Photo: Matthew Shepherd

Impacts of Neonicotinoid Insecticides

Products approved for home and garden use may be applied to ornamental and landscape plants, as well as turf, at significantly higher rates (potentially 32 times higher) than those approved for agricultural crops.

Hopwood et al.. 2012. Are Neonicotinoids Killing Bees? The Xerces Society.

Photo: Matthew Shepherd

Use of Neonicotinoid Insecticides

Most used class of pesticides in the world One of the most widely used class of insecticides in the U.S.

Jeshke et al. 2011. Journal of Agriculture and Food Chemistry 59 (7).

Photo: Matthew Shepherd

Use of Neonicotinoid Insecticides

Source: http://water.usgs.gov/nawqa/pnsp/usage/maps/show_map.php?year=1994&map=IMIDACLOPRID&hilo=H [accessed 6/3/13]

Use of Neonicotinoid Insecticides

Source: http://water.usgs.gov/nawqa/pnsp/usage/maps/show_map.php?year=1999&map=IMIDACLOPRID&hilo=H [accessed 6/3/13]

Use of Neonicotinoid Insecticides

Source: http://water.usgs.gov/nawqa/pnsp/usage/maps/show_map.php?year=2004&map=IMIDACLOPRID&hilo=H [accessed 6/3/13]

Use of Neonicotinoid Insecticides

Source: http://water.usgs.gov/nawqa/pnsp/usage/maps/show_map.php?year=2009&map=IMIDACLOPRID&hilo=H [accessed 6/3/13]

Neonicotinoid Insecticides
Highly toxic + Long lived in the environment + wide use in U.S. = Impact to bees

Photo: Mace Vaughan

Steps to Protect Bees

The Xerces Society supports the Saving Americas Pollinators Act, sponsored by Congressman Blumenauer

Photo: Margo Conner

Steps to Protect Bees

The State of Oregon should consider a similar time out for the four neonicotinoids included under the Saving Americas Pollinators Act.

Photo iStockphoto/rudigobbo

Steps to Protect Bees

The state should require better label language, especially for the non-farm consumer.

Photo: Matthew Shepherd

Steps to Protect Bees

The state should go beyond federal labels and end prophylactic use and/or cosmetic use. State could require greater restrictions on how state government entities use neonicotinoids.

Photo: Matthew Shepherd

Steps to Protect Bees

Increase state-funded outreach and education. The IPM Committee could take up this issue to help state agencies reduce neonicotinoid use.

Photo: Matthew Shepherd