Beekeepers ask EPA to ban pesticide toxic to bees – Technology & science – Science – msnbc.com

26/03/2012 6:06

Excerpts below -the full article can be read from the link above

An-i-mal identification lesson 2# – These are bees, they have knees. Bees are not dangerous! (unless you suffer from a specific allergic reaction (which is around 1-2% of the world population at varying degrees) although it’s more than likely you may suffer a detrimental reaction to nut tainted products or hidden additives or preservatives or oil based resins used to make your fruit look pretty… you get the idea . Bees make honey and pollinate vegetation. Supermarkets do not make honey, vegetables, fruit or any product derived from an organic source that requires pollination. Ergo Bees are good, supermarkets… meh!

‘…Commercial beekeepers and environmental organizations filed a petition Wednesday, asking federal regulators to suspend use of a pesticide they say harms honeybees…..Over 1.25 million people also submitted comments in partnership with the organizations, calling on EPA to take action….Beekeepers and some scientists say the chemicals known as neonicotinoids are lethal to bees and weaken their immune systems, making them more susceptible to pathogens. They say it could contribute to colony collapse disorder, in which all the adult honey bees in a colony suddenly disappear or die…….

The disorder continues to decimate hives in the U.S. and overseas. Since it was recognized in 2006, the disease has destroyed colonies at a rate of about 30 percent a year, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Before that, losses were about 15 percent a year from a variety of pests and diseases…….
Bees pollinate about a third of U.S. crops.

…….Frazier said studies have shown that clothianidin is toxic to bees. The pollen that bees take back to their colonies contains the chemical, as does the dust that comes off planters…….”It’s a subtle long-term issue,” Anderson said. “It’s like giving bees AIDS. Their immune systems are down and all the pathogens and viruses become virulent. So the bees succumb much more readily.”

Anderson, who has pollinated California’s almonds and cherries for more than 30 years, said he’s backing away from cherry pollination because the trees are sprayed with the chemical……”They do it after we remove the bees, but the trees are retaining the chemical from one season to the next and creating a situation where the bloom is becoming toxic,” Anderson said’

A few Bee songs from Preschool Education Songs, Strangely I could not find any Supermarket songs.

The Swarm of Bees
One little honeybee by my window flew;
Soon came another – then there were two.
Two happy honeybees in the apple tree;
One more bee came buzzing up – then there were three.
Three busy honeybees starting to explore
Another bee came to help – then there were four.
Four laden honeybees flying to the hive;
They were joined by one more bee – then there were five.
Five tired honeybees with the others mix;
Now there’s a swarm of them – a hundred times six.

Bumble Bee
Sung to: “Jingle Bells”
Bumble Bee, bumble bee,
Landing on my nose,
Bumble bee, bumble bee,
Now he’s on my toes.

On my arms, on my legs,
On my elbows.
Bumble bee, oh bumble bee
He lands, and then he goes.

Buzzing Bumble bees
6 buzzing bumblebees
Flying around the hive
One buzzes off and that leaves 5.
5 buzzing bumblebees
Flying near my door,
1 buzzes off and that leaves 4
4 buzzing bumblebees
Flying around a tree,
1 busses off and that leaves 3
3 buzzing bumblebees
In the sky so blue
1 buzzes of and that leaves 2
2 buzzing bumblebees
Flying by the sun
1 buzzes off and that leaves 1
1 buzzing bumblebee
Looking for some fun
It buzzes off and that leaves none.