EPA banning 12 neonicotinoid pesticides

[AnonYMouse]

Just saw this article.

Perused the EPA doc (link to PDF in article). They are banning 12 products containing either thiamethoxam or clothianidin.

There are 47 neonicotinoids not banned as of yet but must be reregistered by 2022. I'm guessing imidacloprid is one of the 47.

***Not my field, perhaps some else can expand on this.***

[Dollythehun]

Interesting article AYM. Thank you.

[Ray]

I stopped using neonics a few years ago. It is doubtful that small growers of plants that don't attract bees will make much impact, but with alternatives that don't have long-term impact on pollinators available, it's just not worth it.

[Jeff214]

According to the website below, Imidacloprid is included. Existing stocks can be sold till 5/20/2020.

Federal Register
::
Product Cancellation Order for Certain Pesticide Registrations

[orchidsarefun]

I've sadly only seen a solitary bumblebee in my garden so far this Spring/Summer and that's in a garden that's planted for flowers - shrubs, perennials and annuals. Haven't seen a bee in at least 10 years.
I've had 3 visits from pest controllers in 2 weeks - ants and wasps eliminated, guaranteed.
Despite any arguments - pro and against, I'm all for eliminating "dodgy" pesticides.

[Dollythehun]

Same here. I've seen very few pollinators this year OAF. I also plant for them extensively. Last year was glorious in the pollinator garden, so it may be this weather. I know the birding has been amazing, maybe because there are no bugs? I use whatever is needed on the orchids but, not outdoors.

[Ray]

We saw very few bees in more recent years in our area in PA, but here in coastal NC, I've been thrilled to see them by the score.

In late fall, when most flowers are gone, we see them swarm around the hummingbird feeders.

[Dollythehun]

It's yellow jackets that swarm our feeders. Never honey bees. There's never a shortage of them.

[orchidsarefun]

I was lucky enough to have had a few years in Zambia as a kid and experienced and interacted with lots of insects and wildlife of all kinds. That's continued. I'm not scared. It may be corny to say but the more you can positively interact with the diversity of life - from people on down, the 'happier' you become. That's my 2c worth for today!

[camille1585]

I think it's a great step that pesticides such as neocotinids are getting banned. With so many bee species ending up in great trouble in part due to these pesticides, they need all the help they can get. In my vegetable garden, for the the last few years, I've tried to include many insect friendly flowering plants between crops. I've stopped weeding/preparing the beds so far in advance of the growing season because they are rich with early flowering 'weeds' which are some of the only pollen/nectar sources at that time of year (feb-april). They attract huge numbers of bumblebees!

In France there is now a complete ban (or very, very restricted access) on sales of chemical pesticides for home use. Netherlands is similar as well. I find this to be a very good thing since home users often mis-use or overuse chemicals, but finding effective alternatives to use on my orchids is proving difficult.