The buzz on bees
November 29, 2007 by Aaron Steen
My wife and I are both firm proponents of protecting the environment. This doesn’t mean that we are tying ourselves to trees in front of bulldozers or hosting sit-ins for owls in Oregon. I think that the day of these stereotypes representing the definition of being an environmentalist are gone. As the world acknowledges climate change and the need for measures to become a more responsible and proactive society we are all becoming “green” citizens. The definition of green is very interesting and complicated, but that’s something that deserves a separate post.
I want to bring an interesting and somewhat concerning phenomenon to the attention of those of you who are not aware. My job as a pest management professional is not only to help you in managing unwanted pests and protecting your health and safety but also to educate the public. The topic at hand is Colony Collapse Disorder. Colony Collapse Disorder is somewhat hard to report on as it is still in many ways not understood. Additionally, I in no way claim to be an expert on the subject matter. But, I will share with you the information that I have available.
Colony collapse disorder is the sudden die off of honey bee colonies which has been occurring in the US and other sections of the globe over the past few years. Beginning in October 2006 US beekeepers suddenly began reporting rapid colony die-offs of 30-90%. While winter die-offs are typical, this amount of die–off is not typical and has had scientists working hard to research the subject ever since. There are a number of hypothesis as to why the bees are dying, ranging from parasites and pathogens attacking the bees, nutritional fitness of the adult bees, chemical residue in wax and food storage of bees, stress levels, and lack of genetic diversity and lineage of bees.
You may be asking yourself, “Why should I care?” Bees are responsible for pollinating 1/3 of all food we eat in the United States. The USDA proposes that bee pollination is responsible for 15 billion dollars in crop value, particularly in the area of almonds and other nuts, vegetables, berries, and fruits. If bee populations were to decline the availability and price of 1/3 of our food supply would be in jeopardy. Additionally, industries such as the beef and dairy industry, which rely heavily on the pollination of clover, hay, and forage crops in order to feed cattle would take enormous hits should the bee population decline dramatically. If you are interested in learning more about colony collapse disorder CBS did an interesting show not long ago and here is the article . Additionally, the USDA has posted information and an action plan posted.
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