To the Editor,
Bees are in dire need of your help — today, one in four bumblebee species is at risk of extinction. Last winter, commercial beekeepers in Massachusetts lost 82% of their beehives. A big reason for this massive decline is the use of neonics, a bee-killing pesticide, on our farms, golf courses, and gardens.
The Massachusetts Department of Agricultural Resources examined this issue and released a scientific literature review determining that neonicotinoids undoubtedly harm pollinators. The review found that nearly all of the studies reviewed (42 of 43) cited neonics as a contributor to pollinator declines, and pointed out that the only study with mixed results was industry-funded.
Although this information is daunting, it does not mean that hope is lost. In March of 2021, the sale of neonicotinoid spray in retail stores was restricted in Massachusetts. But our work doesn’t stop there. Following the restriction of neonics, chemical companies began coating this pesticide on seeds—a loophole that is not currently regulated. A single seed coated in neonics is poisonous enough to kill 80,000 bees. Now, as we continue to see the massive decline in pollinator species, banning neonic-coated seeds in our state is more important than ever.
Dahlia Stebbins-Sharpless
Salem
