North American Fruit Explorers mailing list at ibiblio

[Henry <treehugger53ah@yahoo.com>]

New research on neonicotinoid insecticides, which are labeled for use on 
fruit, is showing that they are deadly to bees and other pollinators.

They are systemic and persistent both in the soil and in the plant. As a 
systemic, the chemical is in the pollen and nectar which the bees gather and 
concentrate. 

Most of the big growers are using these, so should you ask whether or not 
your supplier uses them. Bailey Nursey in Minnesota describes their use of 
these chemicals as widespread.

--Henry Fieldseth
Minneapolis, Minnesota, zone 4/5
http://www.FriendsSchoolPlantSale.com


> 
> http://www.minnpost.com/earth-journal/2013/10/new-insecticides-do-unintended-harm-beyond-honeybee-die-offs-report-finds
> 
> "Studies have found their residues to persist up to three
> years in the needles of treated hemlock trees and six years
> in rhododendron flowers, and have shown that  plants
> pick up previous years' residues from soil."
> 
> "Perhaps the society's main policy point is that current use
> of neonics undermines the Integrated Pest Management
> strategy that is supposed to be the foundation of modern
> pesticide practice — a strategic approach that maximizes
> natural factors, minimizes chemical application and tailors
> solutions to the problems they're intended to address."