I've seen a couple of reports recently that honey bees are dying out in large numbers, and it seems to be a world-wide phenomemon.
Bees are largely responsible for pollination, so without them we will have real trouble producing crops.
Forget all this global warming nonsense. This one is a real problem.
2007-03-18 01:31:26 · 9 answers · asked by Cassandra 3 in Environment
Apiarists have been fighting mites in hives for some time now, decades. A new killer being called Colony Collapse Disorder has virtually wiped out many businesses over this past winter.
Domestic honeybee hives are shipped all over the USA to pollinate crops especially fruit orchards. These crops were developed in Europe and Asia thousands(?) of years ago along with domestication of the bees that pollinated them. The first orchards attempted by 17th century Spanish padres in Mexico produced little fruit until it was realized that what was missing were the domesticated bees from "back home". New world bees were not hive bees but solitary.
This will eventually affect not only USA in the new world if unchecked, but I'm reading it's also present in the old world.
I don't know how at this time but the hive species termed Africanized honey bees ("killer bees") which are not domesticated and freely interbreed may be the eventual answer to the pollination and fruit and vegetable production -- but at what cost - they're aggressive little killer-hive monsters! They're also known to be hardier and better honey producers. Go figger.
We need a bee-Androcles to tame that 'lion'. Quickly. The inability to manage hives, that is to place hives where needed when needed as is done with domesticated bees, would have a serious negative food resource production thus also economic impact on agriculture.
2007-03-18 06:24:23 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
It would seem that as the number of genetically modified crops increases, the number of bees that pollenate those very crops are decreasing....Maybe bees aren't used to flounder DNA, or other meddling with the building blocks of life. Did you know than Monsanto owns the patent to a genecially modified corn that is listed as both a food and a pesticide? I'm worried about the bees, but who's worried about us? We're eating GMF's in increasing numbers.... Ask the next bee that you see "Are we next"?...
2007-03-19 21:04:10 · answer #2 · answered by loybost 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
We think that we are so clever, don't we? We think that we are responsible for global warming. Isn't global warming and global cooling something that just happens naturally?
But! We do import and export all sorts of things - and some of them just ain't nice! I have heard about the mites that are killing the bees - but the bumble bees that live a solitary existence and kill hive bees have been around for a long time.
Technology seems to take over here and may well be part of the problem. Bees pollinate indiscriminately. Our scientists want to use discrimination in how and what is pollinated. Is it perhaps a simple case of the bees dying out because they are no longer required?
My point is that if we are saving all these species that are dying out, isn't this just the way of evolution? If we keep making efforts to save things that are dying out then we are not making way for the ones that should be here. I would actually include in this giving fertilisation treatment to people who cannot have their own children.
If you are worried about nature, then keep things natural.
2007-03-18 09:17:36 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 5⤋
Its called Africanisation.
The traditional honey bee is being bred out by the more aggressive African visitors. Its estimated that there will be no English honey bees left within the next ten years.
The African bee is larger and more aggressive.
2007-03-18 08:36:10 · answer #4 · answered by Whatever. 3 · 1⤊ 2⤋
yes, we have another real ecology problem in our hands! we need to quickly do something to restore the ecology balance: stop hurting too many trees and plants, grow more trees, get back to good old friendly terms with natural environ all around us!
2007-03-18 08:41:04 · answer #5 · answered by swanjarvi 7 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Maybe they`ve found out that scientists said it was impossible for a bee to fly.
2007-03-18 08:37:36 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 3⤋
It has nothing to do with humans. A new mite is in their hair and is very good at killing them.
2007-03-18 08:39:28 · answer #7 · answered by Ryan F 3 · 1⤊ 1⤋
your right and it something to worry about , it could destroy our food chain as we know it , its a type of mite that is killing them and so far there hasnt been much success in controlling them
2007-03-18 08:36:16 · answer #8 · answered by BajaRick 5 · 1⤊ 1⤋
umm....is it because they are stinging humans and dying??
2007-03-18 08:41:00 · answer #9 · answered by DK :) 2 · 0⤊ 3⤋