The Disappearing Bees
Page last updated:
14th Jul 2009
First we had the scare of the varroa mite which atttaches itself to bees and destroys them. In some parts of the UK wild bee colonies have been practically wiped out.
Now, bees are facing colony collapse. No-one is sure why but hives are just dying out all across Europe and US.
There is a very simple equation here: bees = pollination = food. Without bees - humans will starve.
I found an interesting quote from John Taylor, WBA secretary, who is encouraging people to become bee keepers in Wales: "...Albert Einstein once predicted that if bees were to become extinct mankind could only survive for four years. People have looked at this and said that was not exactly true – they’ve estimated it would take seven years..." wow, that makes me feel a good deal better!
There are ways we can help bees. Give part of the lawn over to wild flowers, they look lovely and require very little maintenance. Release any bees trapped in the house, if you find a tired one on a pavement or in your garden, put it safely on a flower or give it a bit of sugar syrup (son't give them honey unless it is local, foreign honey can carry foreign diseases). Never kill one, they do a job man will never be able to do as efficiently, they are too precious to our survival.
Five Ways to Help the Honeybees from the Soil Association
Latest:
6th Sept 2007: Paralysing virus is suspected of causing CCD
March 2008: Hopefully I shall understand this subject a great deal better soon. I have signed up for a bee keepers course with the Mid Bucks Bee Keepers in Wendover.
Well done the Co-Op: In an effort to raise awareness and take action, the Co-Op have developed Plan Bee
Widely-Used Bayer Pesticide Blamed for Mass Deaths of Honeybees.
Photo source: Science Daily The dot the same size as the eyes on the back of this bee is a mite, the Varroa Mite.
If you would like to comment on this article or discuss the issues involved, please go to my helping wildlife blog page.