Two Democratic lawmakers unveiled legislation to suspend the use of neonicotinoid insecticides, with the goal of reducing high mortality rates of honeybees and other pollinating species. The legislation, similar in intent to bills dating to 2013, also would require the EPA to complete a thorough assessment of so-called neonics and ensure that they do not pose unreasonable risks to pollinators.
“The status quo is like flying blind — we shouldn’t be using these pesticides when we don’t know their full impact,” said Rep. Earl Blumenauer of Oregon, one of the sponsors. The other, Rep. Jim McGovern of Massachusetts, noted that bees and other insects pollinate a third of the food people eat. Neonics are widely used as a coating on seeds of crops such as corn and soybeans to prevent damage by ground-dwelling pests.
Pests, pathogens, poor nutrition, and pesticides are considered the leading factors in startling declines in bee populations in recent years. Last May, the Bee Informed Partnership, made up of university researchers, reported that its survey found that beekeepers had lost one-third of their colonies in the 12 months ended in March 2017, the lowest loss rate in five years. A USDA report in August also found lower loss rates. Beekeepers offset losses by adding new colonies or renovating old ones with a new queen or new bees.