Neonicotinoids vote

We cant lose the Bees, I agree totally.
But ask anyone why?
They will say, "because they pollinate all our food".
And provide "us " with honey.

Not because people like bees, no one gives two hoots about bees.
Which is the point I'm trying to make.

It's all about, "US", the human race

 

I find it sad that the usual reason trotted out for the bees dying off is its because of those nasty farmers spraying everything that produces all their cheap food.

We never hear about acres of land being cleared for car parks in cities,parks with few flowers just grass,people paving over their front gardens,and most gardeners only growing instant flower displays for just a couple of weeks in the summer.

Im sitting in Edinburgh right now and looking out my windows overlooking many gardens i cant see any flowers,just lawns and a few small bushes. Few insects,no small birds and Im in a leafy part of the city.

Maybe if the cities were to grow more flowers in gardens,parks,road verges,car parks etc over the majority of the year and farmers were to keep increasing the number and health of hedgerows the population may recover somewhat?

 

But basically what they(the EU) are saying is, that it is that very countryside, that we are losing, which is killing the bees.
The spraying of pesticides on the countryside, that is.

Apart from fruit growing I cant think of much farmers grow that actually attracts bees, large areas around here either grow rapeseed or grain.
Not sure, but I dont think rapeseed relies on bees for pollination.

The loss of gardens and wild flowers could be a factor I guess.

 

Oilseed rape is pollinated by bees including honey bees . Also don’t forget beans and all the legumes.

 

The problem with oil seed rape is that there is a lot of flowers in a short time span then there is nowt else to feed of, also oil seed rape is sprayed at the flowering stage which some farmers will spray early morning or late at night but there are some that don't, Good and Bad farmers and Gardeners, also there are some farmers and gardeners that break the rules and law when spraying chemicals if this was adressed it will help the bee's

Oil seed rape is also used as a break crop between wheat,barley and oats, also if prices are good more oil seed rape is planted, so one year lots then another year less oil seed rape, poor bee's don't know wheather their coming or going

Then there is the use of heavy chemical gasses to control bugs/insects in food and animal feed stored products which when the gasses have done there bit of controling bugs and insects are vented into the atmosphere

Edit For Pete
There are chemicals, liquid and gasses that were made back in the 30's-40's that are still use today, but they are only use by licened professionals to control exstream infestations

 

I was under the impression that oil seed rape is blamed for the massive increase in pollen beetles.
So I thought they were probably the main pollinator, but that is just something I read a while ago.

 

@shiney dont worry I've not forgotten...as regards bees, I've never seen as many in my garden as I have this year. So the invention will be well tested!