The following article, published on the Health Canada website, discusses the links between pesticides and bee mortality."Update on Neonicotinoid Class Pesticides and Bee Health"Article consulted on July 18, 2016 [http://www.hc-sc.gc.ca/cps-spc/alt_formats/pdf/pubs/pest/_fact-ficheeonicotinoideonicotinoid-eng.pdf]Source: Health Canada"An extensive review by Health Canada's PMRA [Pest Management Regulatory Agency] concluded that neonicotinoid class pesticides present in dust released during planting of corn and treated soybeans contributed to bee fatalities reported in 2012 and 2013. The locations where the incidents were reported correspond to corn growing regions in Canada... Agricultural data indicates that bee mortalities coincided with specific activities corn and soybean seedlings. In addition, 70% of dead bees collected during the corn and soybean planting periods in 2012 and 2013 had neonicotinoid residues, while the majority of live bees did not. Evidence indicates that exposure to neonicotinoids during the planting season of corn and soybean contributed to bee mortalities in 2012 and 2013...These incidents were similar to incidents reported in Europe, where the planting of treated maize seeds has also resulted in bee mortality."

Figure 1 Locations of reported honey bee incidents across Canada in 2013