Neonicotinoids are a class of insecticides widely used on agricultural crops since the 1990s. They have been linked to colony collapse disorder in bees. Studies have found that even at low doses, neonicotinoids like imidacloprid and clothianidin impair bees' neurological functions and ability to navigate, which threatens their survival. As important pollinators, declining bee populations pose a serious risk to one third of global food production. While other factors may also endanger bees, growing evidence suggests neonicotinoids are a significant contributor and individuals can help by planting bee-friendly gardens without harmful pesticides.

1. “Man’s attitude toward nature is today critically important simply because we now have
acquired a fateful power to alter and destroy Nature. But man is part of Nature, and his war is
inevitably a war against himself.” – Dr. Rachel Carson
During the 1990s, a new type of insecticide was introduced to wide-spread use.
Neonicotinoids “affect the central nervous system of insects, resulting in paralysis and death.
They include imidacloprid, acetamiprid, clothianidin, dinotefuran, nithiazine, thiacloprid and
thiamethoxam” (BEE Protective). Seeds are coated in these pesticides and therefore combat pests
systemically. Neonicotinoids are widely used by farmers, in gardens, in public parks, schools,
etc. However, these pesticides have recently become a topic of hot debate and controversy.
In recent decades, bees have been dying and disappearing at alarming rates. Because bees
are crucial to our ecosystem, this issue causes deserved panic. According to a Harvard University
study, the problem has worsened since 2006. “The study replicated a 2012 finding from the same
research group that found a link between low doses of imidacloprid and Colony Collapse
Disorder (CCD), in which bees abandon their hives over the winter and eventually die. The new
study also found that low doses of a second neonicotinoid, clothianidin, had the same negative
effect” (Lu). While insectidices are not the clear cause of CCD, “Experts have considered a
number of possible causes, including pathogen infestation, beekeeping practices, and pesticide
exposure. Recent findings, including a 2012 study by Lu and colleagues, suggest that CCD is
related specifically to neonicotinoids, which may impair bees’ neurological functions.
Imidacloprid and clothianidin both belong to this group” (Lu).
As mentioned above, bees are crucial to our ecosystem. They are responsible for the
pollination and production of a third of the fruits and vegetables we depend on today. According
to The Honeybee Conservancy, “bees play a vital role as pollinators, which is why their sudden-

2. die off (Colony Collapse Disorder) in recent years is such a critical environmental issue” (About
Bees). For just a few examples, without bees we would have no oranges, cucumbers, particular
beans, blackberries, or squash. These are just a little of the loses we would take without bees.
Because neonicotinoids are often administered by coating seeds, the pesticides spread to
residues in pollen and the nectar of plants that have been affected. The exposure risk to bees is
very high. The concentration of neonicotinoids in pollen residue can reach lethal levels. They
also may remain in soil for multiple years after application, which could cause adjacent plants
and weeds to be contaminated. Untreated plants that are placed in contaminated soil may also be
affected for years after the original placement of the pesticide coated plant. After absorption, the
new compound created by the plant can often be just as toxic, if not even more, than the original
contaminator. Furthermore, “Honey bees exposed to sublethal levels of neonicotinoids can
experience problems with flying and navigation, reduced taste sensitivity, and slower learning of
new tasks, which all impact foraging ability (Neonicotinoids). Even when these chemicals do not
kill our bees, they greatly affect and damage their lives.
So, what can we do to save the bees? For starters, plant a “bee garden.” Plant native
flowers, single flower tops, specific flowers and plants that attract and feeds bees, create a bee
home, use only natural pesticides, and include a bee bath for bees to land in and drink while in
your garden (About Bees). Until further governmental action is taken, these small actions are all
we can do. We must save our bees to save our environment.

3. Works Cited
"About Bees." The Honeybee Conservancy: Save the Bees. The Honeybee Conservancy, n.d. Web. 29
May 2015.
"BEE Protective: Pollinators and Pesticides: Chemicals Implicated." Beyond Pesticides. Beyond
Pesticides, n.d. Web. 29 May 2015.
"Neonicotinoids." The Xerces Society for Invertebrate Conservation (1999): Xerces. The Xerces
Society for Invertebrate Conservation. Web. 29 May 2015.