Without Honeybees, People Die

Honey bees perform a vital function; pollination of crops, home gardens, orchards and wild habitat.  As bees travel from blossom to blossom in search of nectar, they transfer pollen from plant to plant, thus fertilizing the plants and enabling them to bear fruit.

If Honey Bees die, plants don’t produce fruit.  It’s that simple.

In October 2006, honeybees around the world began vanishing in enormous numbers, and more than 25% of the western Honey Bee population has disappeared over the last several winters.

Bee’s are the most important insect in relationship to the human food chain. Albert Einstein, was

supposed to have said that if the world’s bees were to perish, humanity would too within four years, due to the absence of pollinators. Colony Collapse Disorder, or CCD, which is the phrase that has been coined for the disappearance of bees, is a phenomenon that is real. And, according to scientists, it does have the potential of impacting honey and food production dramatically. Hence, there are a number of theories being bandied about in an effort to fathom the reason for disappearing bees. Given below are some of the disappearing bee theories that are being debated about:

Could Stress and Diet be the reason for Disappearing Bees?

In recent years, honeybees have been undergoing great stress as an increasing number of beekeepers have taken recourse to filling up huge trucks with them and crisscrossing all over the country seeking pollination work. These bees may be suffering from the effects of an unhealthy diet that includes concoctions that are similar to power bars and energy drinks, basically made up of artificial supplements. In a number of states, the spread of sprawling suburbs has severely impinged on the natural forage areas of the bees.

Some say Radiation from Mobile Phones is the Culprit for Bees Disappearing

Some researchers are of the opinion that bee populations may be adversely affected by the rise in electromagnetic radiation in the atmosphere due to the increasing numbers of wireless communication towers and mobile phones. The hypothesis is that the radiation from these devices may interfere with the bees’ systems of navigation, thus hindering their ability to find their way back to their nests. Some studies found that when mobile phones were placed near their hives, bees would not come back there. Further studies are underway at present to find out to what extent bees and other insects are affected by this kind of radiation.

A few more reasons are highlighted by Rita Putanda

By Rita Putatunda Published: 11/1/2007

“Could Bees be Disappearing due to Pesticides and Genetically Modified Food?

Many think that the growing use of chemical herbicides and pesticides, which are ingested by bees when they make their daily pollination forays, are to blame greatly. Beehives that are kept for commercial purposes are also fumigated regularly with chemicals to get rid of harmful mites. Genetically modified crops, which could be producing pollen with poor nutritional value, is another suspect thought to be responsible for bees disappearing.

Perhaps a combination of both, pollen from genetically modified crops and chemicals, may have tipped the ballance.

Or is Global Warming the Reason Bees are Disappearing?

Scientists are also wondering whether global warming could be accelerating the growth rates of pathogens like fungi, viruses and mites, which are known to adversely affect bee colonies. This theory is lent credence by the fact that organically raised bees, which are not subjected to genetically modified crops and chemicals, are not undergoing the Colony Collapse Disorder that the other bees are experiencing. ”

Another affecting factor is the “Mite Blight”, caused by the Varroa destructor mite.

In an attempt to get to the truth, NRDC is suing the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to get a look at some documents that might shed light on one of the factors that many believe are part of the scary CCD equation.  The EPA, apparently, has been withholding documentation that  accuses pesticide company’s of contributing to CCD.

CCD has been given some media attention in the last year or so, but not nearly as much as it deserves.  As a result, websites like this one, and bloggers all over the world have been putting out the information that the media isn’t.  If you Google “Honey Bee Blogs” or “Colony Collapse Disorder News”, you’ll find a host of information. You can also check out websites like this one, help save the honey bees.


As always, don”t forget to Alter the Eco and keep up the good fight,

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