The European Commission'srecent ban of three controversial neonicotinoids will have a negative impact on UK farmers, according to experts at agricultural university Harper Adams.
Research entomologist Dr Tom Pope fears that the ban, which will come into effect from 1 December 2013, will leave crops vulnerable to pests. Pope maintains that the three neonicotinoids' impact on the health of bee pollinators did not justify a ban.
He explained:“The neonicotinoid in the stem and leaves of the plant provides protection against important pests, such as peach-potato aphid.Restricting the use of neonicotinoid insecticides will have important implications for UK agriculture. These challenges will include continuing to effectively control key pests while at the same time managing insecticide resistance with a reduced number of modes of action.'
The latest winter-loss survey for honey bees in the UK (2011-2012) suggests that on average 20 per cent of all honey bee colonies died out over the winter period in the UK. However, Simon Irvin of the environmental science department at Harper Adams believes there are several other reasons for the decline, including the parasitic mite Varroa.
He explained: 'Threats such as the parasitic mite Varroa destructor are well known to beekeepers, who use a range of techniques to reduce mite populations within the hive. Beekeepers know only too well that if left unmanaged, Varroa is capable of devastating honey bee colonies.'
However,Irvin does believe it is a positive that the debate over theneonicotinoidsissue, which has generated global media attention, has created a renewed interest in beekeeping.
“Recently the threats facing honeybees and other pollinating insects, such as bumblebees, have been the focus of much research. The importance of this work is clear when we consider that pollination is needed for about three-quarters of global food crops.'
