Two months ago, we began reporting on this Horticultural Horror Story in this story and then this one. A mere two days ago we reported on the possibility that cell phones may be killing the bees and now this.
We may not be Fox News or even CNN. I don’t have the flair for the whatever the hell it is she does of Nancy Grace. But we here at DU promise to keep you informed of every theory, no matter how crackpot or disturbing, as this dire situation unfolds. It’s the least we can do for our buzzy friends!
Pesticides may be hurting honeybees: researcher
Toxins in the environment could be causing honeybee populations to dwindle in New Brunswick, Ontario and the northeastern states, an American researcher says.
Beekeepers in the New Brunswick region are reporting an 80 per cent decline in hive population. Insects have been leaving their hives and not returning.
The cause of the problem is still unknown, but researchers at the University of Illinois think they may be on track to linking the bee losses with increased pesticide use.
May Berenbaum, head of the entomology department at the university, said chemicals may be causing bees to forget the way home.
I saw a bee today, just one. He looked rather lonely. Anyhow, I’ve heard 2 more theories on this, equally plausible. 1. bees use UV rays to navigate and the increase in UV is disturbing their navigational skills. 2. Genetically modified crops, and something to do with the inner linings of their digestive track.
Its anyones guess, I hope the government will take this seriously enough to put some things of lessor importance on the back burner. ………………………. Bwahahahahahahahaha. Yeah, I know, I know, (wipes tear from eye).
Pesticides kill insects? You’re kidding!!
#1, mark, there ya’ go !! Well, this is more logical than cell phone activity wiping them out.
“…pesticides called neonicotinoids…” Nicotine? I can’t remember whether it’s time to go have a cigar or not.
OTOH, don’t know much about bees, but:
http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/medicalnews.php?newsid=4797
Wow, in my own backyard, and on a news site I frequent too, and I still see it here first. I commend the editorial staff at DU most heartily. That said, this seems a little more reasonable than cellphones, and worrisome too – bees are mighty important to the environment, and if they’re dieing, the plant life goes afterwards – I don’t want to live in a desert.
The problem is those theories are on shaky ground too. 1) Are we using new pesticides that we didn’t before? Is there a correlation of pesticide use and bee colony failures? What accounts for the failures only happening in the last year and only in the US and Western Europe? 2) Last I heard there is no increased UV radiation, from what source? Is the sun shining brigher than in years past? No, in fact it is not as bright. 3) Genetically modified crops also makes no sense. Crops that have been genetically modified, are modified in differing ways. If the hive failures are happening in the pollenation of certain crops, it would make sense. But, the bees are disappearing in the pollenation of many crops.
Granted the cell phone theory is very weak as well, but it has some circumstantial evidence to back it up, and that is why it cant be dismissed immediately.
My best guess would be the pesticide theory. Pesticide use has grown recently trying to eradicate west nile virus carrying mosquitoes, so there is a possible correlation right there.
Regardless, it is a mystery that needs to be solved ASAP.
So did they ever solve the mite problem?
Yeah, they sprayed pesticides to kill the mites… DOH!!! 🙂
“Pesticides may be hurting honeybees: researcher”
Ack! I’ve been blinded by the obvious!
Wow, to think of the leap of reasoning….
Insecticides are killing… insects.
Duh. When will we learn that we cannot continue the indiscriminate use of pesticides without any concequences?
More developments in the past few years:
1) Increased spraying of pesticides (chemical and biological) to kill mosquitoes carrying West Nile Virus
2) Turning corn and other matter into ethanol by burning/boiling/breaking down its constituent parts
I’d guess it’s one of those two.
Maybe the bees are emigrating to a country with less guns 😛
3. A decrease in the ozone layer would spur an increase in UV rays. At least thats what I have been hearing for years now, as to the cause of increase in melanoma, etc.
#10
The implications if that is the case is there may not be a way to save the bees.
The good news is that cant be the case because the beehive failures are primarily an American phenomenon. If ozone layer is the cause, it would be world wide.
I am 99% sure this is George Bushs fault.
all this means is that no one know whats going on… yet
..or #758 It’s the bee rapture and only evil bees are left behind 😮
IT’S THE RIAA!
Nah George of the city,
As usual it’s Bill Clinton’s fault.
But as a meadmaker, I have seen the decline in bee populations for a few years now. First it was the mites, now it’s this. If foods are being genetically modified to resist certain pests, this could be one answer. Climate change could be effecting the bees as well. Bees use more of their winter food when it is warmer in winter. With the cold snap that occurred last month, the bees were sent for a loop, and had to use even more food. It seems that the beekeepers who have left more reserves for their bees have fared better than those who have not Personally, I think it could be related to pesticide use, but I am not willing to rule out either climate change, or genetically modified, pest-resistant strains of foodstuffs
My mead making has been slower than usual due to this. Friends’ apiaries are losing hives left and right, and they are searching high and low for wild bees to populate these hives. Wild bees seem to be adjusting, but not fast enough. Several have lost as many as eighty percent of their hives, between the mites, and the latest plague. Prices of honey have nearly quadrupled in the past five years. I might just start keeping my own hives, so that I have a supply of the raw material to make the drink of kings, mead.
11. It appears the problem has emigrated to Europe also.
http://tinyurl.com/32an7v
It’s a little intriguing how many theories this bee thing has generated.
But it’s gotta be pesticides, right? Most likely, anyway.
20,
People are trying to figure it all out because the situation is truly terrifying. The world will change for the worse in ways we can’t even predict if all or even most of the bees die off.
for a good, fairly neutral review of the situation:
http://www.sacbee.com/129/v-print/story/135538.html
damn i said it was pollution the other day, and I stand by that remark!
Bring on the pollen brush toting migrant workers. Shouldn’t need too many to pollinate crop… :/