The chemicals used to coat corn kernels before planting have likely caused the massive honey bee die-offs in recent years, according to a report in Environmental Science and Technology Journal.
"According to the new study, neonicotinoid insecticides "are among the most widely used in the world, popular because they kill insects by paralyzing nerves but have lower toxicity for other animals."
Beekeepers immediately observed an increase in die-offs right around the time of corn planting using this particular kind of insecticide."