Where have all the bees gone?
19 May 2008Honeybees are disappearing.
How can this be? Where are they going and what happened to make them leave in the first place?
This article written by Hannah Nordhaus (a Boulder-based freelance writer. Her work has appeared in the Los Angeles Times, the Financial Times, Outside, and other publications.) and published in the High Country News is both informative and fascinating. It offers an explanation for the dwindling bee population. Not only is it a fascinating in-depth look into bee-keeping but it also explains what is or might be happening to the bee colonies across America. Read the full article at the High Country News. “Thirty years ago, there were nearly 4 million bee colonies in the U.S. Today, fewer than 2.5 million remain, thanks to a reddish-brown parasite so tiny it could stand on the head of a pin, and to a malady so new no one is sure of its origin. … The beekeeper’s biggest enemy in recent years, however, has been a miniature, blood-red arachnid called the varroa mite. A remarkably adaptive, ticklike creature, the mite burrows into unborn brood and adults alike, feeding, as a tick does, on the bee’s body fluids. It is, said Miller, a “sinister predation” that slowly saps the strength and vigor from a hive, either killing the brood outright or causing deformities that weaken adult bees and make them more susceptible to viruses. And this mite is — besides labor, pasture, honey prices, pollination prices, bacteria, fungi, unpleasant neighbors and other invading insects — what beekeepers think most about these days. “This is going to be the challenge of my career, there is no question about that. My grandfather never heard of it; my dad was barely aware of it; it occupies much of my problem-solving time. This varroa mite,” said Miller, “swaggers like a colossus across beekeeping in North America.” … The parasite, which is endemic to Asia, first arrived on U.S. shores in 1987, most likely smuggled in some eager apiarist’s luggage. … Apiculturists are looking at a number of potential culprits, from bad weather to bad corn syrup to genetically modified corn to pesticides to miticides, and many suspect the problem is compounded by the presence of the varroa mite, which weakens colonies so that invading pathogens pack a particularly destructive punch. (Scientists suspect the 2005 die-off was exacerbated by a viral event.)” Hannah Nordhaus
What will happen if the mite races ahead and kills off the European honey bee population? We all know what happened in the “BEE Movie” the bees didn’t pollinate the crops and flowers so they all died, leaving a barren wasteland behind. Is this a possibility? It seems it might be. According to Burts Bees every third bite of food depends on the bees for pollination. So just what can we do to help keep bees happy? Simple things such as replacing part of your lawn or grass with flower beds, try to have native plant species that are well suited to local bee populations. You can even get a free pollinator wheel from Pollinator.org in addition to learning more about the importance of the honey bee and other bugs that are essential for plant reproduction. This an excellent site to read about garden techniques that will attract the right critters, and how to help save the bees on a global scale.
Try to reduce or eliminate pesticides in your garden when possible, look on the web for some great organic solutions. At Arbico Organics you can even purchase live ladybugs for pest control purposes.
When planting your flower beds, choose plants and flowers that provide a continuous growing cycle instead of just spring blooms, try to select plants that will rotate their blooming season.
And finally visit Burts Bees, they not only sell organic bee based skin care products but they will also send you a free packet of bee-friendly flower seeds. Watch the videos and read information on the decreasing bee population and how you can help.
Save the Bees!
Make an adjustment, Stay Healthy ~ ‘Bee’ Happy! Call Dr. Paul or Dr. Susan for all your health concerns.
Fontana Chiropractic, Evergreen Colorado 303.674.1500 or email to schedule your next appointment.
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