What is Killing the Bees

Neonicotinoid insecticides are used to manage insect pests on fruits and vegetables that also rely on pollination. In addition, these crops frequently neighbor and are rotated with large acreage field crops containing neonicotinoid seed treatments such as corn, resulting in potential non-target exposure of honey bees to insecticides. This video highlights current efforts by Purdue entomologists—Ian Kaplan, Christian Krupke, Rick Foster—through a USDA-SCRI (specialty crop research initiative) grant to evaluate the impact of neonicotinoids on managed and wild pollinators of cucurbits in the Midwestern U.S. and determine how best to balance pest management with conserving pollinator health.