More than 100 MinnPost members and guests gathered at Hell’s Kitchen in downtown Minneapolis Monday night for this year’s annual Earth Journal Circle Event: “Pollinators in Peril.” Marla Spivak, director of the University of Minnesota’s Bee Lab, shared her insights into the current plight facing honeybees. After the presentation, Earth Journal writer Ron Meador joined Spivak on stage to lead a lively question-and-answer portion of the evening.

Thanks to everyone who joined us on Monday for supporting environmental coverage on MinnPost. Please consider supporting our high-quality journalism during our member drive. You can learn about our newly announced member benefits program here.

Below are clips from Monday evening’s presentation.

Marla Spivak talking about why flowering plants are the critical food source for all bees, and why restoring natural forage is therefore the foundation of bee health and disease resistance.

Marla discussing the notion that the so-called “inert” ingredients that are in commercial pesticides, but aren’t required by law to be listed on the label, can be more toxic to bees than the active and disclosed contents.

A Q&A exchange about whether we endanger bees by planting forage next to highways.

A Q&A exchange about why we need planting guidelines for bee gardens, along the lines of what we already have for butterfly gardens and rain gardens.

A Q&A exchange about supplemental feeding, and how we’re losing not only commercial honeybees in droves these days, but their human keepers, too.

The one-hour “Pollinators in Peril” presentation and question-and-answer period.