"Bee deaths: EU to ban neonicotinoid pesticides"
See story and background info in BBC story http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-22335520
Good news that the EU and member state's governments are taking this matter seriously at last. Our ecosystems are so complex it's difficult to pinpoint the cause of lack of bees. Maybe it's the pesticides (these or others), maybe it's the weather, mobile phones or just a natural cycle we haven't recognised. But we should try to find an answer and reverse the trend. There has certainly been a reduction in bee numbers here - especially honey bees. Actually, I don't really mind what insects do the pollination. One year we had 2 large wasps nests in the garden which did wonders for the raspberries which the wasps seemed to adore.
I do wonder whether commercial bees are getting publicity for their problems when the issues may well also be with bumble bees and all the other bees and insects that work hard for our harvests as well as themselves.
See my post on first bee seen http://froggartscottagegarden.blogspot.co.uk/2013/03/first-bees.html
But it's only this last week that we've seen many more - mostly big bumble bees.
But it's only this last week that we've seen many more - mostly big bumble bees.