EU ban on neonicotinoids triggers call for a similar ban in Australia to protect bees

European Union countries have voted to ban the outdoor use of insecticides known as neonicotinoids because of the harm they can do to bees, but there is no sign of a similar ban in Australia.

Scientists in Europe fear bumble bees are being killed
 by pesticides known as neonicotinoids and a vote
last week will see them banned in six months' time.

The EU ban covers the use of three active substances: imidacloprid developed by Bayer CropScience, clothianidin developed by Takeda Chemical Industries and Bayer CropScience, as well as Syngenta's thiamethoxam.

Read the ABC Rural News story - “EU ban on neonicotinoids triggers call for a similar ban in Australia to protect bees.”

EU votes for outdoor ban on common insecticide over danger to bees

European Union countries have backed a proposal to ban all use outdoors of insecticides known as neonicotinoids that studies have shown can harm bees.

The move follows a number of studies linking the use
 of the insecticides to population declines in bees.

The ban, championed by environmental activists, covers the use of three active substances — imidacloprid developed by Bayer CropScience, clothianidin developed by Takeda Chemical Industries and Bayer CropScience as well as Syngenta's thiamethoxam.

Read Laura Webster’s story from ABC News - “EU votes for outdoor ban on common insecticide over danger to bees.”

Our changing climate just one challenge facing the world's bees

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 changing climate is just one of many difficulties facing the world’s bees.

Bees - if they die, so do we.

Man’s experiment with industrialized farming with its excessive use of insecticides worsens the life of the bee.

The increase in global temperatures may seem slight to us, but they are disrupting the fine balance needed by bees to first survive and then thrive.

Man’s imprint is now evident throughout the world and while many species are being forced into ever smaller, and inadequate spaces, it is the bee that concerns many the most as it plays critical role in the food chain upon which we depend.

EcoWatch has asked the question about which animal has been the most important to human discussing that in its story - “Honeybees Face Global Threat: If They Die, So Do We”.