Scientists discover what’s killing the bees and it’s worse than you thought
BEE APOCALYPSE NOW
http://qz.com/107970/scientists-discover-whats-killing-the-bees-and-its-worse-than-you-thought/
As weve written before, the mysterious mass die-off of honey bees that pollinate $30 billion worth of crops in the US has so decimated Americas apis mellifera population that one bad winter could leave fields fallow . Now, a new study has pinpointed some of the probable causes of bee deaths and the rather scary results show that averting beemageddon will be much more difficult than previously thought.
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How sadly ironic that the use of chemicals to grow more food so we could feed more people, may in the end, cause the deaths of so many people through starvation.
Far too many people do not realize where their food actually comes from, or how it got to them. They only know the grocery store.
Awful, isn't it!!!?!!
Check out this article on National Public Radio (NPR) from January 2012. We have been ignoring this for too long. On their website under Science Friday they have articles dating back to 2007 about bee population concerns.
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We've know for quite a few years that it was parasites. What we didn't know was why suddenly the parasites were so deadly.
Good for you.
Nature is complicated . Our attempts to control it are dangerously simple ...
Here is some older info from 2008 on this fungus link :
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Notice that they discovered there was a fungus that could counter the varroa mites . So it makes sense that fungicides would tend to aid the varroa and hurt the bees :
Now government-funded scientists at the University of Warwick's plant research group Warwick HRI, and Rothamsted Research has uncovered some new natural enemies of varroa from other hosts.
And they are looking at 'foot baths' impregnated with the newly-discovered fungus placed at the entrance to hives as a way of making sure it is circulated to all the bees. It would work on the same principle as disinfected straw placed at farm gates which workers walk through to stop the foot and mouth virus being spread.
To me, an additional disturbing fact is that growers use forms that contain fungicides and in off-season months they add HFCS to what can't be provided by nature. Add to that, that honey is not regulated and sampled for Organics; if they want to pay for certified organic labels, they can. (info stated by growers from the 'V' word site)
Neonicotinoid
Thank you for the video. Before the main article bringing this agent to our attention, I had no idea that 90% of US corn seeds were treated with this agent! If it affects bees, it would seem to have an effect on us. Is Bayer crazy or just profit-minded at any cost?! ...Like many multinationals.
I read somewhere along the way that by year 2015 it is expected that 90% of all crops will be Gmo. 90%!! Add cross-pollination into the equation, and every creature or animal that ingests weeds and other natural vegetation will also be affected. It's crazy.
The brilliant technology emanating from Israel is working on saving the bees. Here is an example:
Israeli Company Beeologics Discovers Cure for Bee Colony Collapse-Associated Virus
New drug could solve Colony Collapse Disorder which has wiped out bee communities all over the world.
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And here is a lot more information about bees, and what is being done in Israel in its studies of them to avert the disasters that are being predicted:
Its a good thing I didn't publish this article . OTW I would be inclined to defend its proposition that the cause of CCD is fungicides and not fungi . The theory says that the varroa mite is what is killing the bees . Certain fungi supposedly kill off the mite .
It would seem so, Raven.
Makes sense to me, Petey. Just like when gardening, we need certain little bug armies to kill off other little bug soldiers.
Maybe not . Maybe they are only technologists ... people who develop technology for profit .
I am far from knowledgeable about this subject . I am only repeating the info from the linked article .
Check this out;
Monsanto, is of course at the top but look who's below them.....scary. Anyways, time to take action.
For those who are interested in science there is a linked article to read . For those who just want to rail against big business there are slogans to be sloganeered...
"We want your pollen"
A good friend that I teach elementary school with keeps hives. It is amazing how different flowers in her yard yield different honey. Some darker, more flavorful, etc. She uses NO pesticides but still fears that her neighbors do.
The graph is accurate . But the words under it are not established . Think about that Stephi ...
Anytime Steph ...