by Danny Klittich

(This post is be based around the 2014 UC Davis Debate Team debate topic for the Entomological Society of America 2014 meeting)

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Over the past decade, there have been public concerns over large losses in domesticated honeybee populations. These losses could threaten honey production and, more importantly, pollination services for crops such as almond, stone fruits, and berries. Researchers have worked feverishly to identify the most salient factors contributing to these declines. The introductions of Varroa destructor, Nosema ceranae, and Israeli Acute Paralysis Virus have coincided with the onset of Colony Collapse Disorder (CCD) and are suspected to play a role in these losses.

Calls to ban neonicotinoids, a relatively new class of insecticide, overlook the fact that the magnitude of the relationship between pesticides and CCD remains disputed. Numerous studies that implicate neonicotinoids as a cause of CCD are insufficient in rigor and depth. Other classes of pesticides, including those used to control hive pests and fungal diseases, have been found to impact honeybee health and performance.

Part of the perceived pollinator crisis stems from the monetization of ecosystem services, as our reliance on the honeybee shifts from demand for honey production to agricultural pollination. However, the reliance on pollinator services does not come from its necessity for overall food stability, but rather for the production of certain specialty crops. In instances where crops require pollination, stable populations of alternative pollinators can compensate for possible honeybee losses. Given the current state of knowledge, we argue that banning neonicotinoids is a premature and disproportionate response to a complex issue.

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Attached is a poster outlining the debate on neonicotinoids and their impacts on honey bee health.  This poster is the product of a literature review of available publication as of October 2014.