pollinators
Credit: Boba Jaglicic/Unsplash
Vermont moves to protect pollinators by proposing pesticide restrictions
Vermont's legislation to limit neonicotinoid pesticides, known for harming bees, progressed through the House Committee with substantial support.
In short:
- Vermont's House Committee on Agriculture passed a bill to phase out neonicotinoid pesticides by 2029, with most spraying ending by 2025.
- Exemptions exist for fruit growers, with restrictions during flowering periods, aligning with similar bans in Ontario, Quebec, and the EU.
- While some farmers express concern, proponents argue the ban is crucial for the survival of pollinators and the beekeeping industry in Vermont.
Key quote:
"We have some of the best honey in the world right here in Vermont, and that is a gift. We must honor that and cherish it and our critically important insect population."
— Bianca Braman, vice president of the Vermont Beekeepers Association
Why this matters:
The impact of pollinator loss extends beyond agriculture. Pollinators support the growth of flowers, bushes, and trees that provide habitats for other wildlife, contributing to a healthy and balanced ecosystem.
Environmental advocates say numerous studies show neonicotinoids are not necessary and are so detrimental to the environment that they should be banned.
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Credit: Bruce Fingerhood/Flickr
Resurrecting butterflies: A tale of hope and survival through conservation efforts
Metamorphosis is both a biological process and a metaphor for the lives of the citizen-scientist inmates of Mission Creek.
In short:
- Incarcerated women at Mission Creek Corrections Center for Women are raising Taylor’s checkerspot butterflies, an endangered species, as part of a conservation effort.
- The program, a collaboration with The Evergreen State College and Washington State’s Sustainability in Prisons Project, aims to bolster the dwindling populations of this key species.
- The work provides the women a sense of purpose and connection to the larger environmental restoration effort, highlighting the importance of nurturing and conservation even in unlikely settings.
Key quote:
“When I told my family what I do, they said, ‘we’re so proud of you, that you are doing something that has such a profound mission in the world.’"
— Brooke, a butterfly technician and inmate
Why this matters:
The conservation of Taylor’s checkerspot butterflies is vital not only for the survival of a beautiful species but also as a bellwether for the health of our ecosystems. Innovative partnerships and dedicated individuals can make a significant impact on conservation efforts. Insects are in decline. How to avert the insect apocalypse.
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Credit: Lisa Murray/Flickr
Air pollution's destructive impact on moth pollination
Car exhaust byproducts are disrupting moth pollination by degrading the floral scents essential for attracting these nocturnal pollinators, according to a new study published in the journal Science.
In short:
- Air pollution, particularly ozone and nitrate radicals from car exhaust, impairs moths' ability to locate evening primrose flowers by altering the flowers' scent.
- This reduction in pollination could significantly affect the reproduction of plants reliant on nocturnal pollinators, with broader implications for ecosystems and human food security.
- Despite the challenge, reductions in these pollutants since the 1980s show potential for improvement through further environmental protections and shifts to greener energy sources.
Key quote:
"Pollinators play a huge role in community ecology; they’re critical for the fitness of plants. If you affect that, then you’re going to have ecosystem-wide impacts."
— Jeff Riffell, co-senior study author and a biology professor at the University of Washington
Why this matters:
This research points to the complex ways in which pollution interferes with essential biological communications and the broader ecological balance.
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Photo by American Public Power Association on Unsplash
Solar farms could come with a pollinator bonus
New research shows how habitat-friendly solar energy can safeguard insect populations—and improve pollination services on adjacent farms.
Photo by Stacie Clark on Unsplash
To protect wild bumblebees, people have to find them first
For six years, hundreds of volunteers have counted bumblebees across the Northwest. Their data is shaping pollinator conservation nationwide.
Photo by Damien TUPINIER on Unsplash
Bees, butterflies and other county pollinators getting millions in support
Because of the impacts of climate change, habitat loss, disease and the use of pesticides, the number of pollinators that make so many fruits and vegetables possible are on the decline.
| BigStock Photo ID: 472621019 |
| Copyright: megaflopp |
Nearly half of US honeybee colonies died last year. Struggling beekeepers stabilize population
A new survey says America's honeybee hives just staggered through the second highest death rate on record, with beekeepers losing nearly half of their managed colonies. But using costly measures to create new colonies, beekeepers are somehow keeping afloat.
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