Who are the Scientists, health and safety professionals, farmers, and other independent experts who answer your questions?
I am a be keeper, what is the concern about the nicotinoids? What are potential pathways for exposure to the bees?

Expert response from David Fischer

Pollinator Safety Group Director, Bayer Bee Care Center Manager, Bayer Crop Science

Wednesday, 21/05/2014 20:56

While there is some evidence that in laboratory studies neonicotinoid exposure can affect honeybee behavior, many field studies have been conducted, and all report no adverse effects on honeybee colonies in real-world agricultural settings. In the field, typical exposure levels are very low and there is no scientific evidence linking these very low-level exposures to colony losses or declining colony health. Likewise, there is no correlation between where neonicotinoid products are used and where bee colony loss rates are abnormally high. On the contrary, in Canada, bee colony loss rates are relatively low in the major canola-growing areas of Alberta, Saskatchewan and Manitoba. Nearly 100 percent of this crop is grown from neonicotinoid-treated seeds, and most honey produced in this region comes from canola. 

Expert response from Daniel Schmehl

Post-Doctoral Researcher, Department of Entomology and Nematology, University of Florida

Wednesday, 21/05/2014 20:55

Neonicotinoids (e.g., imidacloprid, clothianidin, thiamethoxam) are widely used in agricultural landscapes as a systemic, broad-spectrum insecticide. Neonicotinoids are used more than any other class of insecticide worldwide and are frequently found in seed coatings, foliar sprays and granular formulations. While their toxicity to humans is low, their prevalence of use among farmers and homeowners has raised concern over the level of exposure to pollinators and other nontarget insects. Honeybees can come in contact with the pesticides while foraging for pollen and nectar. Neonicotinoid seed coat applications can translocate throughout the plant and be found in the pollen and nectar. Furthermore, residues can contaminate floral resources during foliar pesticide applications. While the likelihood of exposure for honeybees and other pollinators is high, the risk to pollinators is unclear. It is unlikely that neonicotinoid insecticides are causing any direct death of pollinators; however, there is some evidence for sublethal effects at realistic levels of exposure, including learning, navigation and reproduction. It also is important to note that the adjuvant compounds commonly paired with the neonicotinoid active ingredients are not well understood in terms of honeybee health and are in need of further investigation. While neonicotinoid insecticides are proven to be effective agricultural pesticides against pest insects, our understanding of pollinator health is still not well described.  

Expert response from David Fischer

Pollinator Safety Group Director, Bayer Bee Care Center Manager, Bayer Crop Science

Wednesday, 21/05/2014 20:56

While there is some evidence that in laboratory studies neonicotinoid exposure can affect honeybee behavior, many field studies have been conducted, and all report no adverse effects on honeybee colonies in real-world agricultural settings. In the field, typical exposure levels are very low and there is no scientific evidence linking these very low-level exposures to colony losses or declining colony health. Likewise, there is no correlation between where neonicotinoid products are used and where bee colony loss rates are abnormally high. On the contrary, in Canada, bee colony loss rates are relatively low in the major canola-growing areas of Alberta, Saskatchewan and Manitoba. Nearly 100 percent of this crop is grown from neonicotinoid-treated seeds, and most honey produced in this region comes from canola. 

Expert response from Daniel Schmehl

Post-Doctoral Researcher, Department of Entomology and Nematology, University of Florida

Wednesday, 21/05/2014 20:55

Neonicotinoids (e.g., imidacloprid, clothianidin, thiamethoxam) are widely used in agricultural landscapes as a systemic, broad-spectrum insecticide. Neonicotinoids are used more than any other class of insecticide worldwide and are frequently found in seed coatings, foliar sprays and granular formulations. While their toxicity to humans is low, their prevalence of use among farmers and homeowners has raised concern over the level of exposure to pollinators and other nontarget insects. Honeybees can come in contact with the pesticides while foraging for pollen and nectar. Neonicotinoid seed coat applications can translocate throughout the plant and be found in the pollen and nectar. Furthermore, residues can contaminate floral resources during foliar pesticide applications. While the likelihood of exposure for honeybees and other pollinators is high, the risk to pollinators is unclear. It is unlikely that neonicotinoid insecticides are causing any direct death of pollinators; however, there is some evidence for sublethal effects at realistic levels of exposure, including learning, navigation and reproduction. It also is important to note that the adjuvant compounds commonly paired with the neonicotinoid active ingredients are not well understood in terms of honeybee health and are in need of further investigation. While neonicotinoid insecticides are proven to be effective agricultural pesticides against pest insects, our understanding of pollinator health is still not well described.