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Queen Bees
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Author:  knightofalbion [ Sat Apr 07, 2012 11:48 am ]
Post subject:  Queen Bees

New study links pesticde use to alarming decline in queen bee numbers

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-17535769

Author:  Ann Vole [ Sat Apr 07, 2012 3:57 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Queen Bees

That same class of pesticides (Neonicotinoids) has been shown to significantly alter the way the brain develops in rats and may also be responsible for declining bird populations due to corresponding drops in prey numbers (including the burrowing owl that relies on grasshoppers). Thankfully several countries have banned the use of a similar class of pesticides (both are neurotoxins) called Carbofuron that is persistent in the plants it is applied to and is the third most toxic pesticide in use (1/4 teaspoon kills humans). It was shown to decrease rodent populations between 1/3 and 1/2 (depending on the species tested) from a single application compared to the previous year. If it messes with the nervous system, you can expect collateral damage to unintended species (including humans).

Author:  Johhny Electriglide [ Sat Apr 07, 2012 6:43 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Queen Bees

"The neonicotinoids investigated in the two Science papers are used on crops such as cereals".

In the demand for more food by getting rid of crop destroying pests with chemicals, they have inadvertently started killing species needed for crop growth, the bees. In addition, they are killing those invisible organisms in the soil that are needed for proper soil health.
All from the miss-guided idea that technology in the form of chemistry can alleviate the increasing demands of overpopulation far into overshoot past what the land can naturally sustain without harm.
This poisoning of soils and killing of beneficial organisms in the attempt to increase yields, does the opposite. Using up all the soils' organics without replacement(30% at ZERO organics! and only growing from oil derived chemicals), salinizing soil from river irrigation to get those yields 6 times dry farming, and doing the same by draining aquifers to zero for the very long term (US Ogallala GONE by 2040!). Then we have climate fluctuation causing rapidly increasing crop failures from early or late frosts, flooding or drought.
Still, the pipe dreamers who think science will come to the rescue and feed the overshoot so it won't fall down. Rots o' ruck!!

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