<html>
<body>
<blockquote type=cite class=cite cite=""><br>
<font size=2>For Immediate Release, April 22, 2015 <br>
</font><br>
<font size=2>Contact: Jonathan Evans, (213) 598-1466 or
<a href="mailto:jevans@biologicaldiversity.org">
jevans@biologicaldiversity.org</a><br>
</font><br>
<div align="center"><b>New Study: Common Pesticides Pose Significant Risk
to Wild Bees <br>
</b></div>
<br>
<font size=2>WASHINGTON A study published today in the journal
<i>Nature</i> finds that the use of neonicotinoids, the most widely used
insecticides in the United States, has serious consequences for wild
bees. The study, conducted in Sweden, finds that in field conditions,
neonicotinoid use as a seed coating reduces wild bee density, solitary
bee nesting and bumblebee colony growth; it concluded that the
“contribution of pesticides to the global decline of wild bees may have
been underestimated.” The findings have implications for America’s
pollinators because neonicotinoid seed coatings are used on about 99
percent of corn seeds in the United States.<br>
</font><br>
<font size=2>“There’s no question that these super-toxic pesticides are
taking a heavy toll on imperiled native pollinators around the world,”
said Jonathan Evans, Environmental Health legal director at the Center
for Biological Diversity. “Native pollinators are a critical link in our
food web. We need the EPA to step up and take action to ban these
dangerous chemicals before it’s too late to save our wild bees.”<br>
</font><br>
<font size=2>While the vast majority of studies have focused on the
effects of neonicotinoids also known as “neonics” on honeybees,
today’s study joins a growing body of science finding the chemicals are
harming ecologically vital native pollinators. <br>
</font><br>
<font size=2>“A quarter of all U.S. bumblebees are currently threatened
with extinction,” said Evans. “Wild bees are essential for functioning
ecosystems, but unless our regulatory agencies take action to protect
them, many more bees and pollinators will head toward extinction.”<br>
</font><br>
<font size=2>The <i>Nature</i> study also found important differences in
the effects of neonics on honeybees and wild bees because “honeybees are
better at detoxifying after neonicotinoid exposure compared to
bumblebees.” While honeybees have suffered from chronic exposure to these
pesticides, the study finds that wild bees are more sensitive to the
acute toxic effects of neonics.<br>
</font><br>
<font size=2>Neonicotinoids are a class of
<a href="http://www.biologicaldiversity.org/campaigns/pesticides_reduction/index.html">
pesticides</a> known to have both acute and chronic effects on honey
bees, birds, butterflies and other pollinator species, and are a major
factor in overall pollinator declines. These systemic insecticides cause
entire plants, including pollen and fruit, to become toxic to
pollinators; they’re also slow to break down, and they
<a href="http://www.usgs.gov/newsroom/article.asp?ID=3941#.VPTcRy4RRpj">
build up in the environment</a>. A large and growing body of independent
science, including today’s study, links neonics to catastrophic bee
declines. Twenty-nine independent scientists who recently conducted a
global review of more than 1,000 independent studies on neonicotinoids
found overwhelming evidence linking neonicotinoid pesticides to declines
of bees, birds, earthworms, butterflies and other wildlife.<br>
</font><br>
<font size=2>The White House Pollinator Health Task Force is expected
this spring to issue recommendations on improving the outlook for
declining native pollinators. Earlier this year, more than 125 farmer,
food safety, beekeeper, faith and environmental groups sent a
<a href="http://www.panna.org/sites/default/files/Final%20WHTF%20Pollinator%20Letter.pdf">
letter</a> to President Obama urging a moratorium on all neonicotinoids
and other systemic pesticides. More than 4 million Americans have
<a href="http://www.panna.org/press-release/over-4-million-people-press-obama-protect-bees">
signed petitions</a> urging the Obama administration to take immediate
action on bee-toxic pesticides. <br>
<i>The Center for Biological Diversity is a national, nonprofit
conservation organization with more than 825,000 members and online
activists dedicated to the protection of endangered species and wild
places.<br>
</i> <br>
Jonathan Evans<br>
Environmental Health Legal Director and Senior Attorney<br>
Center for Biological Diversity<br>
351 California St., Ste.
600</font><font face="Times New Roman, Times"><br>
</font><font size=2>San Francisco, CA 94104</font><br>
<font size=2>work- (415) 436-9682 x318<br>
cell- (213) 598-1466<br>
<a href="blocked::http://www.biologicaldiversity.org/">
www.biologicaldiversity.org</a><br>
</font><font face="Times New Roman, Times"></font></blockquote></body>
</html>