Neo-Nics

[a completely inoffensive name]

The number one cause of bee deaths, according to the botany lecture I attended last week, is destruction of habitat. Specifically meadows.

But decreasing that means we won't get our new roads and villas, and will have to(gasp!) take the bus more often. So I guess that's not cool. Much better to ban dangerous chemicals with scary names like dihydrogen monoxide or hydric acid.

There are many papers confirming the toxicity of neonicotinoids for honey bees. It's not banning because of a scary looking name, its banning because the science proves it's harmful. For someone that usually likes to ask if there is scientific backing for other people's opinion, you seemed to breeze right past this.

[HoreTore]

There are many papers confirming the toxicity of neonicotinoids for honey bees. It's not banning because of a scary looking name, its banning because the science proves it's harmful. For someone that usually likes to ask if there is scientific backing for other people's opinion, you seemed to breeze right past this.

Jumping the gun, I'm afraid. We will probably have conclusive proof within a decade though. Not that I am against a cautionary approach, not at all: there's definitely enough evidence to support a ban.

But that wasn't what I was getting at. While this chemical kills bees, it's not the major killer of bees; that's destruction of habitat. But we skip that problem entirely, because doing something about it impacts our cozy lifestyles too much. It's much easier to ban scary-sounding chemicals(and all chemicals are unnatural, remember) than it is to do what is most important: protect the habitat.

How many rage-articles have you seen about a major construction project halted because it will destroy the habitat of some ugly flower, mushroom or frog? How much support is given to the environmentalists then?

Once again, we are doing what is convenient rather than what is important. Ban neonicotinoids, but more importantly stop paving over flowers.

[Papewaio]

Honey: bee vomit

[HopAlongBunny]

I agree with HoreTore: destruction of habitat is probably number one; but with reduced habitat it makes even less sense to make (even "just possibly") what is left toxic.
And yes Pape I love bee vomit; when I learned how to make alcohol from it I loved it even more :) My decade of mead production came to an end a few years back and all the bottles are now empty; inexcusable really because the process is so easy.