Neonicotinoids

Context, History,

and the Way Forward

Pollination

Anther Stigma

Pollination Agent • Wind • Water • Insects • Other

• WIND

• INSECTS:

Solitary bee laying an egg on a pollen ball

Photo by Sheila Potter

Specialist Bees

Bumble Bees

Pre-1990s: Carbamates/Organophosphates/Synthetic Pyrethroids

½ of Pesticides used on Crops in Ontario are Toxic to Honey Bees

High

Moderate

Low

35

15

52

Insecticide Use in Ontario 2008:

Region of Ontario Tonnes of Insecticide Applied

Tonnes of Herbicide Applied

Southern Ontario 61.6 1,788.7

Western Ontario 26.8 1,152.5

Central Ontario 12.7 358.5

Eastern Ontario 3.9 443.9

Northern Ontario 0.9 31.9

http://www.omafra.gov.on.ca/english/crops/facts/pesticide-use-appendix8.htm

SYSTEMIC INSECTICIDES

Neonicotinoids

• Patentable

• Toxic & Persistent

• Systemic: IN not ON

• Targeted (but wide spectrum)

• Low Toxicity to Mammals

• “Just in Case”

The Major Active Ingredients

• Imidacloprid

• Dinotefuran

• Clothianidin

• Thiamethoxam

Big Business

Name Company Products Turnover in million US$ (2009)

Imidacloprid Bayer CropScience Confidor, Admire, Gaucho

1,091

Thiamethoxam Syngenta Actara, Platinum, Cruiser

627

Clothianidin Sumitomo Chemical/Bayer CropScience

Poncho, Dantosu, Dantop

439

Acetamiprid Nippon Soda Mospilan, Assail, ChipcoTristar

276

Thiacloprid Bayer CropScience Calypso 112

Dinotefuran Mitsui Chemicals Starkle, Safari, Venom

79

Nitenpyram Sumitomo Chemical

Capstar, Bestguard 8

Neonicotinoids: Use in Ontario

• Corn

• Soyabean

• Canola

• Field Crops

• Vegetables

• Fruit

• Turf

• Herbs

• Ornamentals

• Trees

How Do Bees Come in Contact with Neonicotinoids?

Toxicity & Bio-Accumulation

LD50: b=0 Toxic Effect = Dose x Timeb

Large dose over a short period of time

Small dose over a long period of time =

Honey bee: b=5 Native bees ?

The Dark Side of Persistence…

Environmental Loading

1000 days : Clothianidin/Imidacloprid

Systemic…

Water Soluble…

Cross-Toxicity and Immuno-suppression

Sept. 13, 2013, PMRA Notice of Intent NOI2013-01

“…we have concluded that

current agricultural practices

related to the use of

neonicotinoid treated corn and soybean seed

are not sustainable."

Integrated Pest Management

….the day IPM died

• December 1990

• 35 OMAF field offices closed

• All except 6 Ag. Rep positions in north axed

• Replaced by internet and 1-800 number

"Let’s say I want to try a new seed this year. I go to the crop guy at the feed store, well, of course he�’s going to tell me to buy his product. When we had the OMAFRA office doing research they gave an unbiased opinion. "Now when we go for our seed, who do we have to rely on," Renaud wonders. Renaud adds that OMAFRA is putting an end to "third party research," leaving the companies actually making the product to do their own research "rather than Guelph University." She says it means for individual companies "your results can be whatever you want them to be.” --Ellie Renaud, Provincial Director in Leeds County for the Ontario Federation of Agriculture. January 2000, Eastern Ontario AgriNews

PROPHYLACTIC INSECTICIDES

• Registration

• Reinstate

• React

• Realize

• Research

RE

The Good News

PMRA Call for Comments:

Notice of Intent NOI2013-01--Action to Protect Bees from Exposure to Neonicotinoid Pesticides

13 September 2013

Please provide your comments to: pmra.publications@hc-sc.gc.ca

by 12 December 2013,

and include the following information: • Your full name and organization; • Your phone number; and, • Your complete mailing address or email address.