Does Europe know something we don't know?  Italy has followed Germany and Slovenia in banning sales of several neonicotinoid pesticides that they blame for the collapse of bee colonies all over the world. 

The ban was reported in a press release issued by the Italian government and passed along by the Organic Consumers Association and ENN.  Here's what they said:

"The two substances are produced by the German company Bayer CropScience and generated *800 million in 2007. Imidacloprid is Bayer´s best-selling pesticide.

"Neonicotinoid pesticides are systemic chemicals that work their way through the plant and attack the nervous system of any insect it comes into contact with. The substances also get into the pollen and the nectar and can damage beneficial insects such as bees."

Apparently Germany has banned the pesticides despite the fact that Bayer makes millions off their sale.  It is one of the larger of the dozen or so companies that make the neonicotinoid pesticides.

The U.S. has been reporting that the causes are as yet unknown, all this while the U.S. has lost somewhere between 20% and 60% of its bee colonies and $15 billion worth of crops at risk - including apples, blueberries, almonds, peaches, pears, cherries and more - because they cannot grow without the cross-pollinization that bees are responsible for.