Will neonicotinoid moratorium save the bees?

Most scientists who study bees believe that the longterm declines seen in many species in Europe and North America have been driven by changes in land use, primarily agricultural intensification since world war two. This has meant fewer flowers to feed from and, for some species, fewer nest sites or less suitable habitat. The honeybee Apis mellifera is also prey to particular pests and diseases, such as the parasitic mite Varroa destructor. In many eyes and headlines, however, a single factor, insecticides, has assumed a primary role in the decline of bee populations. Particular attention has focused on one class of systemic insecticides introduced over the last 20 years: the neonicotinoids.