Year-end Sale % OFF 
Abstract
Our assessment of the multi-year overwintering study by Pilling et al. (2013) revealed a number of major deficiencies regarding the study design, the protocol and the evaluation of results. Colonies were exposed for short periods per year to flowering oilseed rape and maize grown from thiamethoxam-coated seeds. Thiamethoxam as the sole active ingredient was used, not a more efficacious commercial product, at seed treatment rates that were lower than recommended as per common agricultural practices. Design and adherence to the protocol were described inadequately making it doubtful whether the study was implemented in a traceable way. No results are given for overwintering losses. Much emphasis is laid on presenting condensed raw data but no statistical evaluation is provided. Therefore, the work presented does not contribute new knowledge to our understanding of the potential impact of thiamethoxam products under field conditions. Furthermore, the authors express concern over the refereeing process of the paper. Publications in refereed journals are likely to be taken seriously in political debates and policy-making, and so must be based on truthful data and methodologies.
Highlights
A 2-year moratorium implemented by the European Commission on the usage of several insecticidal neonicotinoids became effective on Dec 1, 2013
We conclude that the 4-year field study by Pilling et al [2] exposing honeybees to thiamethoxam-treated crops has substantial scientific deficiencies
These include limited exposure periods, the use of pure thiamethoxam instead of a commercial preparation, the failure to quantify colony losses in winter and the fact that 70 % of colonies did not survive to the end of the experiment, as well as the lack of any statistical evaluation and a compromised reviewing process
Summary
Effects of a neonicotinoid pesticide on honey bee colonies: a response to the field study by Pilling et al (2013). Peter Paul Hoppe, Anton Safer, Vanessa Amaral‐Rogers, Jean‐Marc Bonmatin, Dave Goulson, Randolph Menzel and Boris Baer7*
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
