Neonicotinoids and CCD

[Stromnessbees]

This thread originally began life here on Page 2. As this is the point where it branched into a new line of discussion I have moved the relevant posts into this thread.

Regards

Nellie


Thank you for all your replies.

But I have to tell you: it wasn't acarine, it wasn't varroa. It wasn't bad beekeeping or wood honey either.
- It was CCD, colony collapse disorder, caused by neonic contaminated pollen from seed treated maize.

A look at the maps showed that the affected apiaries were within flying ranges of seed treated crops, those in areas of organic agriculture or even areas with traditional spraying were fine.

Austrian beekeepers are furious and will push for a ban by next year:

(watch from 9:15)
http://tvthek.orf.at/programs/1310-Report


And just in case anybody here thinks their bees are safe as maize is not a common crop here: the neonicotinoids from oilseed rape can affect your bees too and lead to higher numbers of varroa, outbreaks of nosema and early failure of queens due to the delayed toxic effects of these very persistent systemic pesticides.