Local beek lost a bunch of hives, ostensibly to a pesticide. Thousands of bees died in one day.
Tests came back inconclusive, but he was told that the problem was likely a combination of the pesticide dust on the outside of the seeds (a neonicotinoid) and the machinery used to plant the seeds. The machinery apparently spreads the dust. I didn't realize it was the dust that was the problem, but I haven't spent the time to read much about it. I think I'm going to start (in my spare time, lol).
I hear anedotally that this is difficult to set up studies for and there isn't a good body of science on this. Would you all agree? Would like to hear of any definitive OR inconclusive studies.
http://www.daytondailynews.com/news/dayton-news/bethel-man-suspects-pesticide-killed-bees-1364084.html (http://www.daytondailynews.com/news/dayton-news/bethel-man-suspects-pesticide-killed-bees-1364084.html)