• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer
live love fruit logo

Live Love Fruit

Eat Vibrantly. Live Vibrantly

About Start Here Work With Me

  • Home
  • Start Here
  • About
  • Health
  • Remedies
  • Recipes
  • A-Z Conditions
  • Fitness
  • Environment
  • Self Improvement
  • My LLF
  • Shop
Category: > Environment > Study: Bee-Killing Neonicotinoid Pesticides Are Harming Hummingbirds Too

Study: Bee-Killing Neonicotinoid Pesticides Are Harming Hummingbirds Too

May 31, 2019 Kate Harveston Save For Later Print

Last Updated: Dec 14, 2019

149.6Kshares
  • Facebook 149.5K
  • Twitter
  • LinkedIn
Dead Hummingbird on White Background
Image via Liz / Flickr

Recently, Health Canada announced a move to ban the use of certain pesticides containing chemical substances known as neonicotinoids. Scientists have long known such pesticides decimate bee populations, which is bad enough, considering several species have made the endangered list of late. However, current evidence exists showing how these substances harm more than just bees.

Researchers have found neonicotinoids present in the bodies of birds and other mammals as well. The substances have caused multiple hummingbird deaths. Scientists now fear what these substances could do to the human food chain as well as the planet’s ecology.

What are Neonicotinoid Pesticides?

The term “neonicotinoids” refers to a class of chemicals related in atomic structure to nicotine. And just as nicotine acts on the human nervous system, neonicotinoid pesticides act upon the nervous system of invertebrates such as insects. Although most previous scientific evidence pointed to the fact these compounds are less toxic to vertebrates like birds, mammals and humans, the recent death of myriad hummingbirds from neonicotinoid toxicity indicates the chemicals may not be as innocuous as once thought [1].

Although the Canadian ban focuses primarily upon three specific types of neonicotinoids, those who wish to be certain they do not purchase pesticides containing these substances can look for the following terms on the label:

  • Thiamethoxam
  • Thiocloprid
  • Nitenpyram
  • Imidacloprid
  • Dinotefuran
  • Clothianidin
  • Acetamiprid

Beekeepers in Canada have denounced Canada’s ban as not extending far enough. For one, the ban only extends to clothianidin, imidacloprid and thiamethoxam. Secondly, even though the ban prohibits the use of these substances on flowering plants and trees bees tend to flock to, farmers may still use the chemicals on certain grain plants and home gardeners may continue to use them on plants grown in greenhouses.

Additionally, critics point out the ban gradually phases these substances out over a number of years, rather than banning them immediately. They note that the European Union banned the use of all three neonicotinoid pesticides already.

The toxicity of neonicotinoid pesticides to bees measures at 7,000 times higher than even the toxicity of DDT, a substance banned back in 1972 [2]. Given the toxicity level, it boggles the mind how these pesticides were approved for use in the first place. However, ignorance coupled with lobbying from manufacturers paired with the lack of international standards for the use of these chemicals allowed the crisis to worsen.

Neonicotinoid Pesticides Harming Hummingbirds

Even if neonicotinoid pesticides only proved harmful to bees, continued use of these substances would create serious ecological consequences. Bees pollinate 70 percent of the crop species responsible for feeding 90 percent of the human population [3]. Without bees, world hunger, already at epidemic levels, would increase dramatically.

Were bees to go extinct, our grocery stores would hold only half the varieties of fruits and vegetables they now do, as the plants pollinated by bees would perish. And it isn’t only humans who would go hungry. Animal species whose digestive tracts have evolved to sustain on a limited variety of foods would go extinct, also.

Nor are bees the only pollinators humans are losing to neonicotinoids, as the recent hummingbird deaths show. Pesticides and/or their metabolites can be measured in samples of blood, urine, breast milk, amniotic fluid or meconium in mammals [4]. Myriad animals like birds and butterflies who also pollinate plants have evidenced these metabolites when their corpses are examined.

The study that mesured these samples was focused on farming regions in the Fraser Valley and southern British Columbia, the main area where the red-throated rufous hummingbirds are found. The red-throated rufous hummingbird population has declined about 2.67 percent per year from 1966 to 2013 along with two other local species.

Few people who raise backyard chickens would pass Clucky the hen a drag on their cigarette, but neonicotinoid pesticides, once ingested, do impact animal tissue negatively. While proponents of the pesticides claim that the substances traverse the blood-brain barrier poorly if at all in mammals, this hardly renders the chemicals harmless. Humans who have ingested one type of neonicitonoid, imidacloprid, develop symptoms as quickly as 15 minutes after ingestion. Patients exposed to lethal doses experience symptoms similar to those in aspiration pneumonia as well as central nervous system disruption, coma and death [5].

Indeed, due to the use of neonicotinoids, more than half the native species of duck across Canada’s Saskatchewan region are now in sharp decline [6]. The region, once covered with wetlands, now predominates with agricultural grains treated with these chemicals. Plants absorb only roughly 5 percent of the pesticides sprayed on them, meaning the remaining runoff flows into waterways.

Will Other Nations Follow Canada’s Lead?

Even though critics insist Canada’s measure does not go far enough, it’s a step in the right direction. The European Union, in the meantime, began restricting neonicotinoids back in 2013, and, after a lengthy battle, recently voted to expand the ban in April of 2018 [7]. Primary opponents of expanding the ban included sugar beet farmers who claim no meaningful alternative to neonicotinoids exists. France, however, decided on the ban of all five neonicotinoid pesticides.

The U.S. has instituted no such bans at the federal level, although several states have drafted their own bans on certain types of neonicotinoids. Connecticut recently classified neonicotinoids as a restricted-use substance [8]. Maryland restricts use to only state-certified farmers and veterinarians. Minnesota restricts labeling, prohibiting manufacturers from advertising such pesticides as safe for pollinators, and California plans to revisit the issue this year.

Moving Toward Eco-Friendly Agriculture

Despite the protests of certain agricultural groups, safer alternatives to neonicotinoid-based pesticides do exist. One natural way to reduce pest infestation involves rotating crops. This method works because insect pests generally infest only one type of crop. Therefore, even if one crop, for example, a certain grain, becomes infested, if the farmer plants soybeans the following year, the grain-eating pests will starve [9].

Additionally, a host of natural pesticides and chemical versions based upon their derivatives exist. The disadvantage of these types of pesticides is many of them are crop specific, meaning horticulturists must invest in more than one to control all types of pests. However, when compared to the ecological disaster which would result from the loss of the earth’s pollinators, this inconvenience appears minor indeed [10].

A Safer World for Birds, Bees and All Life

Any step toward eliminating the use of neonicotinoid pesticides marks a step in the right direction, and Canada deserves applause for taking this crucial move. Hopefully, other countries, including the U.S., will follow suit, and soon, while there’s still time to save the birds and bees.

Dead hummingbird on street with text - New Study Finds That Bee-Killing Neonicotinoid Pesticides Are Also Harming Hummingbirds
Image of hummingbird via Lenore Edman / Flickr (with text modifications)
149.6Kshares
  • Facebook 149.5K
  • Twitter
  • LinkedIn

Filed Under: Environment, Pesticides Tagged With: hummingbird deaths, Neonicotinoid Pesticides, neonicotinoids killing bees, pesticides causing hummingbird deaths, pesticides killing birds

Kate Harveston

About the Author

Kate enjoys writing about nutrition, fitness and lifestyle. She's a Zumba instructor and a professional writer. You can subscribe to her blog, So Well, So Woman to read more of her work and receive a free subscriber gift!

View Profile

Reader Interactions

Related Posts

  • France Bans Neonicotinoid Pesticides
    France Bans All Five Neonicotinoid Pesticides Linked to Bee Deaths
  • feeders killing hummingbirds
    Is Your Feeder Killing Hummingbirds? Here’s How You Can Help
  • How To Use White Vinegar To Remove Pesticides And Wax From Your Fruit and Vegetables
  • smart pesticides
    SMART Pesticides: Mycologist Holds the Patent That Could Destroy Monsanto
  • Boost Your Energy Levels with this Ginger and Peach Bee Pollen Smoothie
  • bees crowding a bee waterer made of dish and upside down mason jar
    How to Make a Bee Waterer for Your Garden for $5 or Less
  • Man spraying pesticides on tea plants with other side of image showing dry loose tea bags
    Pesticides in Tea: Is Your Favorite Tea Contaminated with Harmful Chemicals?

Comments

  1. Mark Poehner says

    Jun 11, 2019 at 11:22 pm

    The article on neonicotinoids addresses the commercial uses that kill bees and hummingbirds, and is useful for those planting exotic species especially. When we cultivate native species of foods and ornamental plants and trees, we do ourselves a double service: we plant foods that have evolved along with the pests and are resilient, and we diversify our own diet.

    But why are we so alarmed by pesticides killing European bees? What about the native bee species that the European bees have been displacing? We have been breaking up the food web with the introduction of exotic plants, particularly in monoculture, but also in the fauna that depend on native habitat. As a farmer, I produce for 1. Wildlife, 2. Neighbors, 3. Family and 4. the Market. I ain´t rich, but Lord I’m free, healthy and happy.

    Reply
    • Carly Fraser says

      Jun 12, 2019 at 3:15 pm

      Thanks for doing all you do, Mark! I agree. Native bee species are incredibly important, and we need to think of them first and foremost!

      Reply
    • wayne dixon says

      Jun 14, 2019 at 7:02 pm

      obviously monsanto bayer causing the problem..driven by greed..they just dont care. Killing people too.

      Reply
    • Dorothy Stevens says

      Jun 23, 2019 at 5:52 pm

      This needs to be stopped!ASAP! IVENSEEN A DECLINE IN MY BEES’ BUTTERFLIES AND HUMMINGBIRDS. People getting sicker and sicker! Stop this now!!

      Reply
  2. JURGEN ZIESMANN says

    Jun 16, 2019 at 6:17 am

    You state Humming bird populations decline since the 60s. Neonicotinoids were invented in the 80s and used more widely since the 90s. How then can they be rsesponnsible for killing hummingbirds in the 60s. If they are not, why don’t you discuss other reasons for the decline too?

    Reply
    • Carly Fraser says

      Jun 17, 2019 at 5:10 pm

      They simply did a comparison of populations between 1966 and 2013, with more dramatic declines as the years increased. Don’t forget that other pesticides and herbicides like DDT were around long before neonicotinoids and those impacted bird populations as well.

      Reply
  3. Grumpa says

    Jun 23, 2019 at 10:22 pm

    Where is the link to the scientific study that PROVES neonicotinoids kill hummingbirds? Without that link your story is just that – a story.

    Reply
    • Carly Fraser says

      Jun 24, 2019 at 11:07 am

      Did you manage to find all the sources linked in the article that are hyperlinked for convenience of my readers? They’re in pink text, so when you hover over them with the mouse, you can click on the link to be directed to the study. Either text will be hyperlinked or numbers in brackets.

      Reply
  4. Joe Fodor says

    Jun 24, 2019 at 10:30 am

    No linkagage at all between neonictides and hummingbird populations? What study is there? There is no study at all! Does this organization count on its readers not noticing that this entire article is based on a fraudulent premise? What a bunch of hogwash.

    Reply
    • Carly Fraser says

      Jun 24, 2019 at 11:00 am

      Did you manage to find all the sources linked in the article that are hyperlinked for convenience of my readers? They’re in pink text, so when you hover over them with the mouse, you can click on the link to be directed to the study. Either text will be hyperlinked or numbers in brackets.

      Reply
  5. Jeff Ferris says

    Jun 24, 2019 at 2:39 pm

    I would also like an answer to the question as to what study links neo-nics to hummingbird deaths. You keep referring to the hyperlinks included in the article, but not one of them refer to a study showing any correlation between neo-nics and hummers. Rather than giving the generic “look it up” response, would you please provide a direct link?

    Reply
    • Carly Fraser says

      Jun 24, 2019 at 6:52 pm

      Sure, Jeff. Here it is: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/29974994

      Reply

Trackbacks

  1. Environment Montana asks governor to ban bee-killing pesticides ~ Missoula Current says:
    Jun 11, 2019 at 12:00 pm

    […] now, a Canadian study is showing that neonicontinoids also kill […]

    Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Primary Sidebar

Free Ebook

Success! Please check your inbox to download your FREE eBook.

Reduce Chronic Inflammation Naturally!

The Ultimate Guide to Fight Inflammation and Restore Your Health!

21 Ways to Reduce Chronic Inflammation

Recent Posts

healthy weight loss smoothie recipe with bananas, greens and pineapple

Healthy Weight Loss Smoothie Recipe to Burn Fat

resistance band glute workout set of 4 illustrated exercises

The Best Resistance Band Glute Workout

diagram of different plant foods rich in zinc

24 Zinc-Rich Plant Foods to Boost Immunity and Fight Disease

Close up of female hand with yellow protective gloves cleaning oven

How to Make the Best Homemade Oven Cleaner

Popular Posts

Man spraying pesticides on tea plants with other side of image showing dry loose tea bags

Pesticides in Tea: Is Your Favorite Tea Contaminated with Harmful Chemicals?

glyphosate in wine

Monsanto’s Harmful Chemical Glyphosate Found In 100% Of California Wines Tested

whole dandelion plant with flowers and roots on cutting board on a table

Dandelions Are Not Weeds! Top 10 Health Benefits of Dandelion

johnson & johnson baby products in pharmacy

Johnson & Johnson Finally Admits: Our Baby Products Contain Cancer-Causing Ingredients

10 Plants That Attract Dragonflies for Mosquito Control

companion planting chart

Use This Companion Planting Chart to Help Your Garden Thrive

France Bans Neonicotinoid Pesticides

France Bans All Five Neonicotinoid Pesticides Linked to Bee Deaths

Glyphosate in Food: Complete List of Products and Brands Filled with Dangerous Weed-Killer

whales dying from plastic pollution

Whales Dying From Plastic Pollution Are a Grave Reminder to Give Up Our Addiction to Plastics

illustrated piriformis muscle showing trigger points and radiating pain

How To Get A Deep Piriformis Stretch To Get Rid of Sciatica, Hip & Lower Back Pain

Recommended

Thank you! Please check your inbox to confirm your subscription!

Want to reduce inflammation and restore your health?

Join Live Love Fruit and we'll show you how!

Footer

Stay Connected!

Follows
  • 312.8k Followers
  • 1.9k Followers
  • 60.3k Followers
  • 417 Followers
  • 10.8k Followers
  • Home
  • About
  • Start Here
  • Write For LLF
  • Contact

Any medical information published on this website is not intended as a substitute for informed medical advice and you should not take any action before consulting with a healthcare professional.
Content on Live Love Fruit may not be reproduced in any form.
Ads provided by AdThrive. Displayed ads do not constitute endorsement or recommendation by Live Love Fruit.

Copyright © 2012 - 2021 Live Love FruitPrivacy Policy | Terms of Service | Full Disclaimer | Affiliate Disclosure

149.6Kshares
  • 149.5K