What is happening to our bees?
69
Where are the bees going?
Reports started in 2006 in the US of the collapse of honey bee colonies. Workers were dying or failing to return to the hive leaving just the Queen, the babies and the few feeble nursemaids. Without the continuing presence of the workers the colony collapses and the hive dies. In the USA bee keepers were losing between 30% and 70% of their hives and the reason still has not been completely uncovered. This mass loss of honeybees could lead to serious repercussions around the world.
- The compete Beekeeping guide
A beginners guide to beekeeping; from the right type of bees to learning about their special needs. Everything for the beekeeping beginner. - Self sufficient lifestyle
The site for everything you need to know to obtain a self sufficient lifestyle. From gardening to beekeeping, home schooling to hydroponics, all you need in one site.
But bees just make honey, right?
Yes, they do make honey, but they also do a lot more for us. They are the major pollinators of most plants, including crops for human food. This is now of great concern with food crops already beginning to decline due to the increase in energy crops (those grown for bio-fuel) rather than food. Without pollination from honeybess we could find ourselves in the grip of a worldwide famine, as well as the loss of many plants. On a minor point this would also lead to a worldwide loss of money through crop production.
What is causing bee decline?
Bee colonies are susceptible to many threats as they live in a very close environment. Bacterial infections, varroa mites and other hive invaders can be blamed for the decline in hives, but the most prominent cause of bee decimation is something called colony collapse disorder. This is where the worker bee just disappear, and the colony ceases to exist. There have been several things blamed for this phenomenon; stress, virus and exhaustion but it is also now being linked to pesticides and even mobile phones! Whatever the reason for the decline of the bees, this is a serious problem.
|
DOONEY AND BOURKE BEE WRISTLET! AUTHENTIC AND CUTE
Current Bid: $25.89
|
|
100% pure beeswax 1 oz blocks (bars) bees wax
Current Bid: $1.00
|
|
ACEO Gweddus original fantasy art Puppy dog and bee
Current Bid: $5.73
|
|
free ship 20pcs silver plated and enamel bee pendant
Current Bid: $4.99
|
And for the furture?
Well, the future does not look bright. The British Beekeepers' Association (BBKA) have said that if action on this matter is not taken urgently then honeybees will disappear completely from Britain by 2018. The US government, seeing the impending disaster, has already invested $80m into research on CCD to try and stop it. The British government is reluctant to find finances to authorise their own research - although CCD has not yet spread to the UK from Europe, there is every possibility that it will.
If nothing is done to stop the decline of the bee population we may well find ourselves in the throes of a serious ecologic and economic disaster.
|
The Backyard Beekeeper: An Absolute Beginner's Guide to Keeping Bees in Your Yard and Garden
Price: $12.66
List Price: $19.99 |
|
Keeping Bees And Making Honey
Price: $11.16
List Price: $19.99 |
|
Bees and Bee-Keeping, from "The Young Landsman," Published Vienna, 1845 Giclee Poster Print by Matthias Trentsensky, 12x9
Price: $34.99
|
|
Bee Culture
Price: $25.00
List Price: $23.50 |
PrintShare it! — Rate it: up down [flag this hub]
Comments
People do not think how something so small as a bee could seriously effect our lives too. We need to tackle this problem before it's too late.
Great hub. I have a colony of bees that have made their hive in the wll of the small barn. I have postponed the reconstruction of the barn until the bees have moved themselves into the hive box I made them. Hopefully it will work.
regards Zsuzsy
I think they are hiding at the back of our lot. ... Oh, Honeycomb, won't you be my baby
Well, Honeycomb, be my own
(Jimmie Rodgers?) I loved that song!!
I really am concerned about this...they help so many flowers and crops..
I saw a documentary on this not long ago--it's a scary situation and until we have some idea what is causing it, there isn't much we can do. Great you are hubbing about this so more people know what is happening to the bees--worldwide. Thanks and thumbs up.
Thanks for a great hub. What we are doing with the enviroment is equivalent to attempting brain surgery with an ax. The smallest change to the smallest animal can radically impact the entire environment, and yet companies still are allowed to relase toxins and bioengineered organisms based on profit motives alone. Sadly I think it will take a very harsh catastrophe before things change.
I just hope that people will start to take notice. Bees may not be so cute looking as polar bears but they are so important to every living thing - all insects are. I was taught the food chain at school and how important the lower plants and animals are. If we remove just one link then everything else above it will collapse. Why can't our politicians see that?
There was an article on the BBC breakfast TV about this a few weeks ago.
It's very sad, as you've already said the food chain effect with be very bad. Not only the lack of honey and all its wonderful health benefits, but pollenation of veg such at broccoli aswell.
I'm sure there are some plants/flowers that bees are the only pollenators of to.
Yes, the bees are a great concern and it seems the problem is world wide. I do think that it has to be due to pesticides
However, I was very pleased to see the Mock Plumb tree in our front yard swarming with honey bees as it began to bloom. It's a beautiful tree in bloom or just the red leaves.
I've seen lots of bumble bees but no honey bees (perhaps it's just that I'm looking now). Why we still feel the need for industrial pesticides is beyond me. You kill off the good insects as well as the destroyers and, as this hub shows, that can lead to all manner of problems!
Great hub topic and very pertinent for the many reasons you listed. I am thankful to know there are many concerned people. The more who speak up, the better :o)
Bob Ewing says:
14 months ago
This is a cause for concern