Where have all the bees gone?? #2?

Question

I noticed someone in England has allready asked this question.
I recall a couple years ago in North Carolina the were very concerned about the bee shortage and saying it can cause an agricultral crises.

Now I am hearing that much of the US is having a problem with a shortage of bees.

Am I getting the news correct? If so, where have the bees gone and this can have an extreme impact on our country?

Answer 1

Honey bees are not native to North America, so their loss actually benefits native plants and native pollinators that compete with honey bees. On the other side of the coin, many of the crops we plant are not native either and honey bees are about the only thing that pollinates some crops. So, the bees will have a huge effect on the agriculture industry.

Answer 2

Well, I assume you're talking about HONEY bees. Bumble bees are doing fine, although they don't have much of an agricultural benefit. (They just buzz around doing nothing much.) And unfortunately African killer bees are on the upswing...and we don't need that!

The Honey bee is suffering from a parasite these days. It's a situation that's getting real serious considering how many crops depend on honey bees for pollination.

Answer 3

According to ABC World News (circa Feb 26), an increasing number of honey bees are not returning to their hives. As a result, they are migrating away from the flowers and blossoms they are expected to otherwise pollinate.

The cause is uncertain according to ABC, but it likely a combination of causes. It may be that the bees are losing their ability to navigate because of air pollutants. It might also be that some insecticides are killing them off. Finally, there might also be a natural cause, like fungus or virus, killing them off. But, bottom line, the bottom line for farmers is being affected by the lack of bees working in their fields and orchards.

Answer 4

There is yet a new illness killing off hives in USA. Yes it will affect agriculture since bees are pollinators for many crops, especially fruit trees, therefore availability and prices in the grocery stores.

Answer 5

here in NC the biggest problem has been a mite that infects the colonies and causeing them to die off. there is some speculation that other factors contribute to the problems.

see http://www.ncbeekeepers.org