NRDC: Why Insects Matter

NRDC's Science Center is led by Gabriela Chavarria, an expert on bees who earned her doctorate in entomology under E. O. Wilson. She works to protect insects -- particularly bees-by fighting to remove toxic chemicals from the environment.

What can the average citizen do to protect bees?

The next time you walk out into your backyard, look around. Insects are the little creatures that run the world. Bees pollinate many of our crops, yet they continue to be threatened by pesticides and other toxic chemicals. We tend to be afraid of bees, but 95 percent of them do not sting. If you find a bee's nest, don't knock it down. Find a local beekeeper in the yellow pages and call to report the hive. Beekeepers are increasingly interested in collecting feral hives to breed more robust and genetically diverse bees. You can also go to beesafe.org to learn more about taking other actions to protect bees.

Where is the scientific consensus on what’s happening to honey bees?

Scientists studying colony collapse disorder argue that a combination of factors could be causing bees to abandon their hives, including pesticide exposure, invasive parasitic mites, a nutritionally inadequate food supply, and severalviruses that targets bees' immune systems.. NRDC is working to curb the use of the worst of those pesticides. 

Which pesticides should we try to avoid in our own gardens?

Well, avoiding all pesticides is best. If you do use a pesticide, don’t use them in combination. The additive effects can be especially harmful. And it’s important to read labels and instructions on the products you do buy. Not only do you want to avoid the nastiest chemicals, you also want to avoid over-spraying. You don’t need to empty the whole can at once. If you read the label you will see that a small spray is plenty. Some pesticides are more toxic to bees and other beneficial insects than others. Four groups of chemicals are particularly harmful, so home gardeners should try to avoid them. They include clothianidin (commonly used on corn and canola), dinotefuran (used on cabbage, bell peppers, cotton, grapes, and melons), imidacloprid (used on cabbage, pumpkins, cotton, blueberries, citrus, grapes, and melons) and thiamethoxam (used on bell peppers, cotton, cantaloupes, cherries, pears, strawberries, watermelons).

What is NRDC doing to try to curtail the use of pesticides that are harmful to bees and other beneficial insects?

We’re trying to keep the worst ones off the market. About two years ago the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) approved the use of a new type of pesticide, spirotetramat, which was marketed by Bayer under the trade names Movento and Ultor and interrupts the process of cell division in insects. Bayer applied for approval to use spirotetramat on crops including apples, pears, peaches, oranges, tomatoes, grapes, strawberries, almonds, and spinach. Beekeepers and scientists have expressed concern over Movento’s potential impact on beneficial insects such as honeybees. The pesticide impairs the insect’s ability to reproduce and the EPA’s review of Bayer’s scientific studies found that trace residues of Movento brought back to the hive could cause significant mortality in honeybee larvae. The approval process went forward without the advance notice and opportunity for public comment that is required by federal law and the EPA’s own regulations so NRDC filed suit. In December, a federal court in New York invalidated the approval and the ruling went into effect on January 15, making future sales of spirotetramat illegal.

Sounds like we won’t have to worry about dousing backyard bees with spirotetramat. Any other tips for protecting bees at home?

Do your best to turn your garden into a safe haven for insects. Use native plants that bloom throughout the growing season. That creates a healthy buffet of diverse nutrients for local pollinators. Creating nesting sites -- remember that 95% of bees don’t sting! This is safe! -- and water sources is also important. Avoid planting flowers that carry the label “Pollen Free”: the amount of pollen flowers produce is minimal, and believe me they are not the ones responsible for most allergies. Usually wind pollinated plants are the ones that trigger allergy symptoms since they produce massive amounts of pollen. Bees come to your garden to eat, so make sure you have some pollen for them. NRDC scientists have put together a series of additional tips and guidelines to help gardeners get started.