WHY YOU SHOULD CARE ABOUT THE DISAPPEARANCE OF THE BEES

Chocolate. Grapes. Berries. Pears. Pecans. Without the bees these foods would not exist. Entomologists are discovering that over 90% of the wild bee populations in the US have already died out. The scientific community has long been concerned about the implications of having fewer bees to pollinate flowers and crops, but most people barely realize that a problem even exists. In fact, when we ask people to help "Save The Bees", most of them reply ,“Are you serious?”

What’s Going On?

The United States bee population is rapidly declining. In the past ten years there has been 25% hive loss due to pesticides and insecticide usage, varroa mites and loss of habitat. Twenty-five percent hive loss is bad enough, but something is happening now that nobody has been able to explain. Most beekeepers are losing 70% of their hives due to an unexplained disease referred to only as Colony Collapse Disorder or CCD. In 24 states there have been reports of hundreds of thousands of bees dying off suddenly. Nobody really knows what is causing this. Maryann Frazier, an entomologist from Pennsylvania State University says that there have been past occurrences of colonies dying off, “but we have never seen it on this level.”

There are a number of theories as to what is going on but very few answers. Some are considering it the AIDS virus of the bees. Survivors are often suffering from multiple ailments suggesting immune dysfunction. Severe weather and temperature increases may be stressing the bees causing weakened immune systems. A recent study has suggested that it might even be our use of cellular phones and other wireless technologies that is causing the disappearance. A small study done by Landau University found that bees refuse to return to their hives if a cellular phone is placed in the vicinity. Bees are very attuned to frequency so the possibility is very real. There has been no single parasite, chemical, bacteria or event that has been found to be the cause.

The Economic Impact

Bees pollinate more than $14 billion worth of crops such as apples, soybeans, peaches, cucumbers, cranberries, blueberries and almonds to name only a few. We get one out of every three bites of food from bees. If this calculation is expanded to include indirect products, such as the milk and beef from cattle fed on alfalfa, pollinators may be responsible for almost $40 billion worth of agricultural products each year. California supplies 70% of the almond crop to the world and suffered serious economic losses this past growing season due to a lack of pollinators.

What Next?

Bees are often referred to as the canary in the mineshaft. When the bees are in trouble it is a sign of bad things to come for the entire ecosystem. It may be that we are trying to be too clever, trying to control the uncontrollable with genetically modified crops and the like. Migratory beekeeping, the trucking of bees from state to state to pollinate crops, no doubt stresses bees and exposes them to unfamiliar bacteria and viruses. We need to seriously rethink our environmental impact as we pour greenhouse gases into the air, pollution into the rivers, and pesticides and insecticides carelessly over acres and acres of crops. Like global warming, which was once considered an alarmist theory and largely ignored by the general population, most people will pay very little attention to the plight of the bees until the crisis is tangible for them through higher food prices, scarcity of foods that were once readily available or even worse, large scale famine. We have far too much pride in our abilities and therefore fail to see the shortcomings of our so-called advances. This pride moves us further and further out of step with the delicate balance of the world in which we live. It starts with the bees. It ends with us.

What You Can Do?

You can get involved. Plant flowers to help healthy pollinators thrive. Let your legislators know that this matter concerns you and create awareness amongst your family, friends and colleagues. Join BeeCeuticals Organics in our efforts to SAVE THE BEES. We donate a portion of our profits to agencies actively working to find solutions to the problems faced by the bees as well as sponsor events and educational forums to help spread the word.

Sources:
The Xerces Society www.xerces.org
The New York Times. Honeybees Vanish, Leaving Keepers in Peril. Alexei BarrionuevoThe Independent, Are Mobile Phones Wiping Out Our Bees. Geoffery Lean and Harriet Shawcross
Richard Thomas Gerber, Colony Collapse Disorder (CCD)—Mysterious, Massive Death of Bees in the US. Asymmetric Threats Contingency Alliance

Information and statements regarding BeeCeuticals Organics products have not been evaluated by the FDA. BeeCeuticals Organics products are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any health condition or disease. Always consult a physician before making any changes in your health regimen.