Please register to participate in our discussions with 2 million other members - it's free and quick! Some forums can only be seen by registered members. After you create your account, you'll be able to customize options and access all our 15,000 new posts/day with fewer ads.
Bee populations are dwindling across the globe, putting one in three food crops like apples and almonds, which depend on pollination from bees, at serious risk.
Story at-a-glance
Researchers analyzed pollen from bee hives and found 35 different pesticides along with high fungicide loads.
Each sample contained, on average, nine different pesticides and fungicides, although one contained 21 different chemicals.
While previously assumed to be safe for bees, bees fed pollen contaminated with high levels of fungicides had a significant decline in the ability to resist infection with the Nosema ceranae parasite, which has been implicated in Colony Collapse Disorder (CCD)
In the US, the “Save America’s Pollinators Act” has been introduced; if passed, this bill, HR 2692, would require the EPA to pull neonicotinoid pesticides, also implicated in bee die-offs, from the market until their safety is proven
Electromagnetic fields (EMFs) – Researchers have discovered that when a cellular phone is placed near a hive, the radiation generated by it (900-1,800 MHz) is enough to prevent bees from returning to them, according to a study conducted at Landau University several years ago.4
More recently, a study published in 2011 found that the presence of microwaves from cell phones have a dramatic effect on bees, causing them to become quite disturbed.5
Lack of natural foraging areas – Mass conversions of grasslands to corn and soy in the Midwest has dramatically reduced bees’ natural foraging areas.
Genetically modified (GM) crops – In 2007, a German study demonstrated that horizontal gene transfer appears to take place between the GM crop and the bees that feed on it.6 When bees were released in a field of genetically modified rapeseed, and then fed the pollen to younger bees, the scientists discovered the bacteria in the guts of the young ones mirrored the same genetic traits as ones found in the GM crop.
There are many other insects that act as pollinators such as wasps, hornets, some types of flies and moths, etc. Honey bees just happen to be one of the most common and efficient pollinators. There are also many other types of bees besides just the honey, most of which are effective pollinators. I have also heard that pollen can be dispersed via the wind. Perhaps someone else has heard the same?
Many birds and bats are pollinators as well.
What andywire said! With the bee plague in full swing I have seen many, many other pollinators some in to fill the gap. And this looks like one of the best years for apples we have had around here in a very long time, with hardly a honeybee to be found. Remember that honeybees were imported by Europeans in the last 300 years, and before that the Indians still had plenty of plant foods.
What andywire said! With the bee plague in full swing I have seen many, many other pollinators some in to fill the gap. And this looks like one of the best years for apples we have had around here in a very long time, with hardly a honeybee to be found. Remember that honeybees were imported by Europeans in the last 300 years, and before that the Indians still had plenty of plant foods.
So you are saying, who cares what is killing the bees? We don't need em anyway?
I think it would be better to look at the dangers of chemicals, pesticides and fungicides to our food sources.
Bees are the best pollinators. If they are in trouble, we all are. And honey is not only sweet, it is medicinal.
There are many native bees that are very good pollinators - the Honey Bee (Apis) is not the only effective pollinator in North America. In fact, some plants (like tomatoes) aren't even pollinated by Apis bees and blueberries are more efficiently pollinated by native North American bees.
The decline in the Apis population is, indeed, a problem that needs to be addressed, but we must also be aware of all related facts as well. North America has always had efficient pollinators of native species.
Now, if the native pollinators are also dying-off then we can really worry.
Never fear, folks -- the long-awaited killer bee is entirely immune to the honeybee plague and is a great little honey producer. Now who would like to collect some honey for me?
An ER doctor in AZ said the other day on NPR that there have been 640 killer bee attacks in the USA in 2012 alone. Nobody was trying to take their honey.
Since those are all we have here, good to know. And they can keep their honey.
Please register to post and access all features of our very popular forum. It is free and quick. Over $68,000 in prizes has already been given out to active posters on our forum. Additional giveaways are planned.
Detailed information about all U.S. cities, counties, and zip codes on our site: City-data.com.
Please register to participate in our discussions with 2 million other members - it's free and quick! Some forums can only be seen by registered members. After you create your account, you'll be able to customize options and access all our 15,000 new posts/day with fewer ads.
