Prof. Dave Goulson of Sussex University gives a response to the Society of Chemical Industry meeting in London to discuss “Are neonicotinoids killing bees?”
He gives a summary of what is know of the effect of neonicotinoid pesticides on bees,
particularly on bumblebees and other wild bees that are important pollinators of crops and
wildflowers. In the UK, honeybees contribute no more than ~30% of crop pollination, the rest coming from wild insects.
Check this brilliant little video of the development of a bumblebee nest:-
David Goulson in his University of Sussex blog is concerned about the content of a new leaflet from Homebase “BEE INFORMED – WHEN USING INSECTICIDES IN YOUR GARDEN”. The Homebase leaflet says that “Some claims have also been made of a possible link between the decline in bee populations and the use of some insecticides. This has not been shown scientifically”.
David Goulson, Professor Of Biology (Evolution, Behaviour and Environment) at Sussex University, and many others, have a long record of scientific research which does show the links between the decline in bee populations and the use of some insecticides.
http://splash.sussex.ac.uk/blog/for/dg229/2016/04/26/bee-informed–but-not-by-this-propaganda
The Homebase leaflet can be downloaded from:
Bee Friendly Monmouthshire 