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31| The IFP -H alton H ills | T hursday,June 21,2018 theifp.ca bees' necks. This changes the entire composition of the bee as she develops. Her abdo- men is much larger than the average female. When she hatches and matures, the queen bee takes one flight out of the hive to mate with an aver- age of 12 to 15 drones. Each have their genitals ripped from their bodies and kept inside the queen. They then fall to the ground and die. This is enough material to fertilize her eggs for a lifetime, so she returns to the hive and sets out to work. Bees fascinate Ray Lav- ender, and for good rea- son. He remembers watch- ing his parents raise bees on their farm in Edmonton and having to start entire- ly fresh each year because the frigid Alberta winters would kill off the colonies. His apiary, on the bor- der of Erin and Acton, fares much better in mil- der Ontario winters, but beekeeping is challenging across the globe. Two studies in 2017 found direct links between declining bee populations and the use of neonics. A study by Nadejda Tsvet- kov in partnership with colleagues at York Univer- sity found bees in corn- farming areas in the prov- ince are being exposed to neonics nearly the entire growing season. "The neonics are just too devastating to the bees," said Lavender, ex- plaining that the pesti- cides are used on crops but also spill off trucks and poison bees from ditches. "The worst one, we feel, is rain running into ground- water." Lavender says he's lucky that there are not any farmers using neonics within the five-kilometer radius around his proper- ty where his bees forage for nectar. In 2015, the Liberal gov- ernment banned 80 per cent of neonics in Ontario, which Lavender says gives hope for both beekeepers and for wild populations in the province. "Hopefully we're com- ing out of it and the pub- lic's interest will not wane," said Lavender. NEWS l Continued from page 20 Raising bees a family affair for Lavender Above, Ray Lavender inspects the bees in his brood box, where a new hive of bees are building up their colony. Right, bees working on comb within the frames Alexandra Heck/Metroland From Modern to Contemporary to Traditional. Product & Design That Complement Your Life. 348 Guelph Street, Georgetown (Behind YoYo's, next to Cooper Standard) www.kabinetpro.com 905-702-7719 Authorized Dealer for