You can download the study[0].<p>If you look at the model in equations (2), (3) and (4), you can see that they force fit the decrease in population of the bees on the neonicotinoid exposure. Because the decrease of the population <i>in this model</i> is only linked to pesticides, you need a very careful analysis of the confidence intervals and the quality of the fit or you can fall into the spurious correlation trap[1].<p>Also <i>"The authors acknowledge that their study finds an association and doesn't prove a cause and effect link between the use of neonicotinoids and the decline of bee populations."</i>. Which is good, it means they know the limits of this study.<p>The other case is that around 2005, we had a shift to produce more biofuels by doing more extensive single crop farming. This also had devastating effect on the biodiversity needed for the bees, insects and the birds.<p>The last point is, why bees are going very well in Australia even so Australia is the most extensive user of neonics?<p>The issues with bees is really a hard problem, most likely a combination of many factors, so I do not want people to jump on a single factor (the neonics) then claim victory and move to other things even so neonics are most likely not the main factor.<p>This year was bad for our bees, 8 hives, just 1kg honey per hive...<p>[0]: <a href="http://www.nature.com/ncomms/2016/160816/ncomms12459/pdf/ncomms12459.pdf" rel="nofollow">http://www.nature.com/ncomms/2016/160816/ncomms12459/pdf/nco...</a>
[1]: <a href="http://tylervigen.com/view_correlation?id=1597" rel="nofollow">http://tylervigen.com/view_correlation?id=1597</a>
As a fruit lover, I always choose old fruits, the damaged ones, because I can't bear waste. Most people don't have this behavior, they want shiny, clean, solid fruits, the ones obtained with pesticides. It's often the opposite of tasty, but people are stupid
We have known this the last 20 years, people just don't give a fuck unless the after-effects are cutting into their profit.<p>I will miss the bees. I will not miss the people.
"We're shocked!" -No One<p>Seriously though, outside of a few desperate libertarians on the internet who needed not to believe it, I've never met a serious person who didn't see that likely connection.