globalbriefs Bee Killers: Neonic Pesticides Again Linked to Decline
A study in the journal Nature Communications examined wild bee populations relative to the use of controversial neonic (neonicotinoid) pesticides from 1994 to 2011, and discovered
that extinction rates paralleled their use on plants throughout the country. The 34 species analyzed experienced a 10 percent popu-
lation drop across the board, with five of the species seeing a decrease of 20 percent or more, and the most-impacted group declining by 30 percent. Researchers say this indicates that up to half of the population decline could be attributed to the use of neonics. “It contributes, but there is a bigger picture,” says Jeffrey Pettis,
an entomologist at the U.S. Department of Agriculture Beltsville Bee Laboratory, in Maryland. Other factors are thought to include parasites such as varroa mites and nosema fungus (a bacterial disease known as foulbrood) plus viruses, drought and loss of
habitat. Meanwhile, the
Friends of the Earth (FOE) environmental group has launched a petition calling on the Ace and True Value hardware companies to follow Lowe’s and Home Depot’s example of phasing out the pesti- cides. FOE says, “If these garden retailers don’t act fast, they’ll lose customers. A new poll shows that 66 percent of Americans prefer to shop at Lowe’s and Home Depot because they’ve committed to stop selling bee-killing pesticides.” Take action at
Tinyurl.com/BanNeonicsPetition.
Healthy Holdover
Kitchen Garden Stays at White House
The W. Atlee Burpee home gardening company and the Burpee Foundation have contributed $2.5 million to the National Park Foundation to maintain the White House garden, founded in 2009 by former First Lady Michelle Obama, for at least 17 years. The garden is a powerful symbol of Obama’s effort to promote healthy eating
and lifestyles for America’s children. During an eight-year span, she added bee- hives, a compost system and a pollinator garden to attract birds and butterflies as the garden nearly tripled in size to 2,800 square feet.
Robot Janitors Floating Trash-Eaters Clean Up Baltimore Harbor
Mr. Trash Wheel and Professor Trash Wheel, the solar- and hydro-powered trash interceptors cleaning up Baltimore’s inner harbor, have the ability to suck up plastic bags, Styrofoam containers, cigarette butts and other debris. The waste is burned to generate electricity, and plans exist to increase recycling capabilities in the future. The brainchild of engineer John
Kellett, who gained the support of the Water Partnership of Baltimore, a nonprofit that supports environ- mental legislation, the inventions are designed to make the area a green, safe and friendly destination for people and marine life.
12 NA Triangle
www.natriangle.com
Orhan Cam/
Shutterstock.com
kenkuza/
Shutterstock.com Waterfront Partnership of Baltimore
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