Honeybees and their pollination are directly responsible for 15 to 20 percent of the food Americans consume. Over the past few years, honeybees have been on the decline. Recently, a total collapse of hives has occurred across America. As many as 700,000 of America’s 2.4 million bee colonies may be affected. Something is stressing out our honeybees, making them susceptible to a variety of pathogens.

A recent article in The New Jersey Star Ledger outlines the potential pollination disaster facing New Jersey’s $200 million agricultural industry (A Stinging Loss For US Farmers - Honeybees Vanish). The beekeeping industry is calling it Colony Collapse Disorder or CCD. Some beekeepers are reporting a 90% reduction in colony size and production.

The population decline may have some sinister and disturbing roots. One scary hypothesis points to genetically altered corn and the imbedded pesticides (imidacloprid) in the plant, as a potential suspect in the bee population collapse. The pesticide may weaken the bees’ immune systems, making them susceptible to various pathogens; and may also effect their sense of direction and ability to return to their hives. Many of the affected hives show no signs of dead bees, just empty hive boxes in communities near major corn fields. With the impending explosion in corn production, not for human consumption, but for corn-based ethanol, we may be creating a perfect storm for honeybee destruction and a zooming up-tick in fruit and produce prices.

Several additional studies are underway to identify the cause or causes.

This problem may be the result of a combination of things. Natural cycles, viruses and parasites have all historically contributed to fluctuating bee populations. From Europe comes news of a study at Landau University that points to cell phone radiation as a potential contributor to CCD, as the destruction of honeybee populations spreads to Europe. Another destructive natural force facing bee populations is the varroa mite, a bloodsucking parasite that attacks both young and adult honeybees. Attacked bees often have deformed wings and abdomens and a shortened life span. Loss of habitat and widespread use of pesticides over the last century have tremendously reduced wild honeybee populations, making them a very small contributor to pollination for agri-business.

All the evidence points to a growing, destructive problem for consumers. We need bees and I need my blueberries.

other sources:
earthandsky.org

mississippi state university