bees

For bee alarmists, Groundhog Day comes in June

Solid evidence shows there is no “bee-pocalypse,” but alarmists allege new pesticide threats.

Europe gives Trump Administration excellent tutorials on how not to regulate pesticides

Now wild bee junk science and scare stories drive demands for anti-pesticide regulations

The White House finally appears ready to announce conclusions and policy recommendations from the Pollinator Task Force it appointed a year ago. Environmentalist groups eagerly await the decision. After clamoring and campaigning for years for government action, they hope to get tough restrictions on using innovative new insecticides called neonicotinoids.

The convergence in almond groves of so many commercial bees from all over the country creates a hotbed of viruses and pathogens that can spread to many hives. The varroa destructor mite carries at least 19 different bee viruses and diseases, causing major impacts on bee colonies. Parasitic phorid flies are another problem, and highly contagious infections also pose significant threats. The intestinal fungus nosema ceranae, for example, prevents bees from absorbing nutrition, resulting in starvation.