One of three bites of food we eat including most fruits and vegetables are pollinated by honeybees. In 2012 the beekeepers of Thurston County experienced colony losses of 75-85%, far higher than ever. They strongly suspect the class of insecticides known as neonicotinoids. These have been banned or use severely restricted in 4 countries in the EU, which have seen honeybee colonies rebound once the bans were implemented. The beekeepers believe that use of these chemicals for ornamental use is misguided, harmful, unnecessary, and dangerous to honeybees and other pollinators.