Insecticides Devastating PA Honeybee Population, Lawmakers Say

HARRISBURG, PA — A specific class of insecticides is devastating to honeybees and other pollinators crucial to Pennsylvania's ecology and economy, according to lawmakers who are pushing for restrictions on its use.

Known as "neonicotinoids," the insecticides are chemcially similar to nicotine and act as an aggressive poison on insects. Even nonlethal doses can impact navigation, stamina, memory, and ferility, scientists say.

"We believe it is time for Pennsylvania to protect honeybees and other pollinators," State Reps. Mandy Steele (D-Allegheny) and Christopher M. Rabb (D-Philadelphia) said in a statement.

Pollinators like honeybees are crucial in keeping ecosystems in balance. Numerous plants survive solely off of pollination, and vast swaths of crops would vanish without sufficient honeybee populations.

Bees have been declining for some time, both around the world and here at home in Pennsylvania. A six-year study completed by Penn State University in 2022 found that wild bee communities in Pennsylvania have been consistently declining in biodiversity, and a third of species saw major decreases in number.

The European Union banned the neonicotinoids in 2013, but they continue to be used throughout many parts of the United States, including Pennsylvania, despite urging from environmentalists.

Steele and Rabb's bill would not outright ban neonicotinoids, but instead would limit their sale and the sale of seeds and plants that had been treated with the chemicals. The bill would also mandate that the Pesticide Advisory Board create training and educational materials on the proper handling of neonicotinoids.

In the meantime, advocates say residents can help limit the spread of neonictonioids and damage to pollinators by simply not purchasing these items. A list of common household items that may contain neonictonoids has been collated by the nonprofit Beyond Pesticides here.

Pennsylvania has some 61,000 honey bee colonies and more than 60 registered beekeepers.