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Infographic: Bees’ Toxic Problem

Nearly 1/3 of honey bees have perished in just a few years, and honeybees pollinate 1/3 of all the food we eat. This is a closer look at a major cause of widespread bee die-offs, what it means to us, how we can help.When the sweet life goes sour. Let's start with pesticides.How 'neonics' harm honey bees.A picnic without bees. Bees are critical to U.S. food supplies. 1/3 of the foods we eat are pollinated by these creatures.The big picture: Honey production is the best overall indicator of bees' health. That's because sick bees make less honey. Here's a look at U.S. honey production since the bee killing class of pesticides neonicotinoids came into the picture.

Update, Jul. 12, 2019: The U.S. EPA is allowing the bee-killing pesticide sulfoxaflor back on the market.

The decision comes four years after the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals ruled the pesticide could not be used in the United States, following an Earthjustice lawsuit.

“At a time when honeybees and other pollinators are dying in greater numbers than ever before, Trump’s EPA decision to remove restrictions on yet another bee-killing pesticide is nothing short of reckless,” said Greg Loarie, attorney at Earthjustice.

Related: Attorney Greg Loarie discusses Earthjustice's litigation to get the pesticide sulfoxaflor off the market, due to threats it poses to honeybees.

“It was like something just had it by the throat and was just pulling the strength from it.”
– Bill RhodesFlorida beekeeper, on the sickly bee hives he began seeing in 2005.
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