Bayer Garden is advising garden care retailers to be informed about neonicotinoids in pesticides and the associated debate about the health of bees, so that they can answer consumers' questions.
Said Bayer CropScience's Dr Julian Little: "It's a shame that the debate around bee health has focussed on the impact of pesticide use rather than the real issues of nutrition and bee pests and diseases. Retailers of garden care products need to understand the issues so they can dispel the myths and mis-information."

Researchers into bee health have identified a complex interaction of factors as the causes of bee decline. These include the Varroa mite, diseases including Nosema, a lack of food, low genetic diversity, queen bee failure and changing weather patterns. Pesticides are almost at the bottom of the list. For more information visit www.beecare.bayer.com