neonicotinoids

Melitta americana, a cranberry-loving bee from Georgia.

Thanksgiving Buzz: What Would Pilgrims Say About The Plight Of Bees?

8:21am November 26, 2015

by Allison Aubrey

When you sit down for your holiday dinner, you may want to give thanks to bees and other pollinators. Their health is tied to your food. What's behind the bee declines? Watch our video investigation.

Peponapis pruinosa is a species of bee in the tribe Eucerini, the long-horned bees. This bee relies on wild and cultivated squashes, pumpkins, gourds and related plants.

As Beekeepers Lose More Hives, Time For New Rules On Pesticides?

6:08pm November 24, 2015

by Allison Aubrey

Beekeepers lost 42 percent of their hives last year. NPR and PBS NewsHour investigate what's behind the plight of the pollinators. Some scientists say pesticides called neonics are being overused.

The White House announced an action plan Tuesday aimed at reversing dramatic declines in pollinators like honeybees, which play a vital role in agriculture, pollinating everything from apples and almonds to squash.

Pollinator Politics: Environmentalists Criticize Obama Plan To Save Bees

12:09pm May 20, 2015

by Allison Aubrey

The White House's strategy to reverse dramatic declines in bee numbers calls for the restoration of 7 million acres of bee-friendly habitat. Critics say the plan ignores a key culprit: pesticides.

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A honeybee forages for nectar and pollen from an oilseed rape flower.

Buzz Over Bee Health: New Pesticide Studies Rev Up Controversy

3:56pm April 25, 2015

by Allison Aubrey

Two new studies published in the journal Nature point to a connection between a class of insecticides known as neonicotinoids and a decline in bee health. What's bad for bees is bad for crops, too.

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