Honey bees are dying at an alarming rate, and this winter marked the worst losses by far. U.S. beekeepers reported that as man as 50% of their bees disappeared or died.
Last week, the European Union took a major step to protect its bee population – placing a two-year ban on the neonicotinoid class of pesticides, including clothianidin and thiamethoxam, which many scientists think are behind the alarming rate of colony collapse.
But the U.S. is still finding excuses for inaction. The USDA just published a study finding that neonicotinoids are in fact the least important in a long list of contributing factors to bee die-offs.
With the health of our bee populations – and the estimated $15 billion in agricultural benefits they provide – on the line, it’s time for the EPA to stop ignoring the science, and follow the EU’s lead.
Tell the EPA: Immediately suspend the use of the pesticides that are killing bees.
