Dying bees

The bees are dying. Have you seen "The Bear Necessities" by Baloo the Bear in The Jungle Book.


Why do you think the bees are dying?

Because there aren't any birds to repopulate them.

That's how it works, right?

Colony Collapse Disorder

Although, I have to say we had a honeybee nest living right outside our house for three years, and we couldn't kill them with anything (we didn't want to...originally we were going to call a beekeeper to move the queen, but we called and said we'd have to tear up the house to get to her). I forgot what we used, but we finally killed all of them after three years of trying.

The last report I saw indicated it appears to be natural causes. Some sort of fungus or whatever. Perhaps global warming is partly to blame, but nobody really knows just yet.

It seems the most likely explanation is that mites supress the bee's immune system, making them die to disease a lot easier. Could also be due to pesticides and GM crops like the wiki article says but I've got my money on the mites.

Bee Mites Suppress Bee Immunity, Open Door For Viruses And Bacteria

Perhaps an engineered selective virus is in order? Kill off the mites and voila.

Don't know what is killing them but am glad to see all sort of groups starting beehives in all sorts of places. There are some onto top of city hall in Chicago that produced triple the normal amount of honey (400 lbs), It is thought that they are doing very, very well there due to the citys abundant planting of pesticide free grown flowers. Another hive at O'hare Airport produced 150lbs; there are groups springing up all over the city to bee farm.

This effort seems to be going worldwide. I think I am getting inspired.

Urban expansion having to clear out niche places where there was a considerable number of flowers that happened to be the preferred go-to-spot for bees.

Honestly, over the years I've noticed a decline myself within my own neighborhood, plenty of trees have been cut down, along with the small gardens people used to plant with flowers.

It's from a pesticide called clothianidin.

Originally Posted by Elwin

It's from a pesticide called clothianidin.

Also linked to thiamethoxam as well.

Honeybee deaths linked to seed insecticide exposure

@Elwin and @Agile

What pesticides are used other than clothianidin and thiamethoxam?


R.C.
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