neonicotinoids

The “Insect Apocalypse” is happening now. Insect populations are declining worldwide, in numbers that are quite staggering. Some countries are reporting a 45% reduction in insect biomass, while some streams in the United States have shown a 96% reduction in invertebrate life. If we think of insects as the “krill of the land,” we can understand how all other animal groups in the food web – fish, reptiles, amphibians, birds and mammals – depend on this food source. This loss of insects is due primarily to the overuse of insecticides.

As Master Gardeners, we have the opportunity and the responsibility to sound the alarm and make a change in this potentially devastating trend. Please follow the link below to the information page at Pollinator Project Rogue Valley to find links to information about neonicotiods, and the harm they inflict on our environment and local ecosystems.  What are Neonicotinoids?  By educating yourself, you can better educate others!