Australian beekeeper reports ongoing decline of bee population

Local food supplies are under increasing threat because the area’s bee population is experiencing ongoing decline, claims a lifelong Australian apiarist. The local industry expert, who asked not to be named, said the area between Tamworth and Toowoomba had lost more than 35% of its bee population in the past five years. And he believed that a common chemical used by domestic and commercial gardeners – a neonicotinoid insecticide – was partly to blame. The local industry expert is urging farmers and apiarists to come forward and report bee losses to the Australian Pesticides and Veterinary Medicines Authority (APVMA). “We need bees to pollinate berries, fruit, nuts, most of the foods we like to eat,” he said. “Without them we’re stuffed, so I hope people like eating gruel.”

Source: Northern Star, 02.05.2011
http://www.northernstar.com.au/story/2011/05/02/bees-population-insect-…