The danger of certain pesticides on bees has come into the spotlight more and more in the past weeks. Now, a panel of independent scientists operating as the Task Force on Systemic Pesticides has said that neonicotinoids and fipronil (which account for 40% of the insecticide market) are harming the environment and bee populations.
As bumblebees die out, so too will the produce we take for granted. Most of the fruits and vegetables we eat rely on pollinators, and the world would be a very dull (and unhealthy) place without them.
Some environmentalists estimate that the common bumblebee species populations have plummeted by 95 percent in the last few years. Whether it is indeed pesticide use, habitat destruction, climate change or disease from non-native species, we must take seriously the immediate danger to these vital members of our ecosystems. If we don't act fast, the bumblebees -- and the crops they pollinate -- could be gone for good.
It's time for us, and for our leaders, to start taking bumblebee die-off seriously. One American bumblebee species is already listed as "critically endangered," and more will probably be on the list soon. Tell the U.S. Department of the Interior to take action to protect bumblebees before it's too late!