I pretty much believe the majority of global warming is natural but it is certainly contributed to by the environmental pollution humans are responsible for. That pollution is likely a much larger contributor to the bee problem than warming. What do you think?
Reply 1 : Bee decline
at least in the US. Sorry to hear there's still a problem. Bees (and the lesser-known pollinating wasps) are very important.
In a couple of his stories Kipling referred to a bad period in British apiculture when the US keepers came to the rescue with hive exports. That would have been about 1850-1900. I never have researched it; perhaps I should.
In a couple of his stories Kipling referred to a bad period in British apiculture when the US keepers came to the rescue with hive exports. That would have been about 1850-1900. I never have researched it; perhaps I should.
Reply 2 : Bee decline
Are they saying that human intervention is proven?
"They include pesticides, air pollution, a lethal parasite that only affects bee species in the northern hemisphere, mismanagement of the countryside, the loss of flowering plants and a decline in beekeepers in Europe".
It is just the remark "a lethal parasite.." that makes me wonder.
Mark
"They include pesticides, air pollution, a lethal parasite that only affects bee species in the northern hemisphere, mismanagement of the countryside, the loss of flowering plants and a decline in beekeepers in Europe".
It is just the remark "a lethal parasite.." that makes me wonder.
Mark
Reply 3 : Bee decline
Even if a parasite is part of the cause, the artificial process of beekeeping may have decreased biodiversity. Biodiversity is key to resistance to some pathogens. IOW, there may be a link between human activity and vulnerability to the parasite. That is certainly true of some banana species.
That said, I'm just guessing.
That said, I'm just guessing.
Reply 4 : Bee decline
the bees immune system to pathogens and parasites. I can't help but be disturbed by yet another antibiotic distributed in the food chain. Imagine drug resistant bee stings. (relax Dr. Bill, I'm pulling everyone's leg with that one)
Rob
Rob
Reply 5 : Bee decline
and such in Lapland or wherever. If we 'engineer' our plants into a dead end, we'll be able to 'start over.'
Reply 6 : Bee decline
I'm not sure I see the connection with beekeeping as commonly done in the U.S.
Most beekeepers keep the Italian strain of bees, as they are gentle and good producers. I guess you could say that that is an artificial process, as they are not native to the U.S. The ones kept are not "engineered", just the strain that is popular and usually chosen.
Most beekeepers keep the Italian strain of bees, as they are gentle and good producers. I guess you could say that that is an artificial process, as they are not native to the U.S. The ones kept are not "engineered", just the strain that is popular and usually chosen.
Reply 7 : Bee decline
I was commenting on Doc's biodiversity comment. As you say, probably not as much of a problem with bees, although not zero probability.
Reply 8 : Bee decline
I think that is probably disease and parasites. Some good news is that scientists in Spain may have found the cause of one of the diseases. The cause is Nosema ceranae, and they may have found a possible cure. A story about it said:
In a study published in the new journal from the Society for Applied Microbiology: Environmental Microbiology Reports, scientists from Spain analysed two apiaries and found evidence of honey bee colony depopulation syndrome (also known as colony collapse disorder in the USA). They found no evidence of any other cause of the disease (such as the Varroa destructor, IAPV or pesticides), other than infection with Nosema ceranae. The researchers then treated the infected surviving under-populated colonies with the antibiotic drug, flumagillin and demonstrated complete recovery of all infected colonies.
In the U.S. there has been a problem with a parasite called the Varroa Mite and a virus whose name escapes me at the moment. When the County Agent used to come around and inspect my hives, he said that the main problem, and the one he was mainly searching for was the Varroa Mite.
In a study published in the new journal from the Society for Applied Microbiology: Environmental Microbiology Reports, scientists from Spain analysed two apiaries and found evidence of honey bee colony depopulation syndrome (also known as colony collapse disorder in the USA). They found no evidence of any other cause of the disease (such as the Varroa destructor, IAPV or pesticides), other than infection with Nosema ceranae. The researchers then treated the infected surviving under-populated colonies with the antibiotic drug, flumagillin and demonstrated complete recovery of all infected colonies.
In the U.S. there has been a problem with a parasite called the Varroa Mite and a virus whose name escapes me at the moment. When the County Agent used to come around and inspect my hives, he said that the main problem, and the one he was mainly searching for was the Varroa Mite.
Reply 9 : Bee decline
If the antibiotic has no serious side effects, then 'Just give 'em a shot.'
Mites are harder to control, I'm guessing.
Mites are harder to control, I'm guessing.
Reply 10 : Bee decline
My neighbors attic appears to be one of the new hide outs.
Bob
Bob
Reply 11 : Bee decline
This really goes back to at least 2007:
http://articles.sfgate.com/2007-04-26/news/17240024_1_honeybees-severe-acute-respiratory-syndrome-asian-economy
Hate to be too cynical, but the two things I take from the original post:
"UN alarmed at huge decline in bee numbers"
"We need to have an international network, global approaches,"
Think MONEY !!!!!!!!!!
http://articles.sfgate.com/2007-04-26/news/17240024_1_honeybees-severe-acute-respiratory-syndrome-asian-economy
Hate to be too cynical, but the two things I take from the original post:
"UN alarmed at huge decline in bee numbers"
"We need to have an international network, global approaches,"
Think MONEY !!!!!!!!!!
Reply 12 : Bee decline
Allowances" In fact switch Oil Depletion to Bee Depletion and kill two situations with one vote. When you're out of bees you're pretty much out of food. You can walk to a train station powered by anything , but you can't walk to an empty grocery store, there's no point.
Rob
Rob
Reply 13 : Bee decline
Second time you mentioned it today. Must be on your mind. What's the point you want to make about it? Start a thread on it instead of dropping it in others if it's that important to you? Here's a link you can start with.,
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oil_depletion
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oil_depletion
Reply 14 : Bee decline
They appear to have evolved in South East Asia and the Philippines, though there have been fosillized remains found in Europe
All bees are European imports just like us, beginning in 1622, see Wikipedia
"There are no honey bees native to the Americas. In 1622, European colonists brought the dark bee (A. m. mellifera) to the Americas, followed later by Italian bees (A. m. ligustica) and others. Many of the crops that depend on honey bees for pollination have also been imported since colonial times. Escaped swarms (known as "wild" bees, but actually feral) spread rapidly as far as the Great Plains, usually preceding the colonists. Honey bees did not naturally cross the Rocky Mountains; they were carried by ship to California in the early 1850s."
That may be the origin of the story about the need for replenishment in 1850.
All bees are European imports just like us, beginning in 1622, see Wikipedia
"There are no honey bees native to the Americas. In 1622, European colonists brought the dark bee (A. m. mellifera) to the Americas, followed later by Italian bees (A. m. ligustica) and others. Many of the crops that depend on honey bees for pollination have also been imported since colonial times. Escaped swarms (known as "wild" bees, but actually feral) spread rapidly as far as the Great Plains, usually preceding the colonists. Honey bees did not naturally cross the Rocky Mountains; they were carried by ship to California in the early 1850s."
That may be the origin of the story about the need for replenishment in 1850.
Reply 15 : Bee decline
The majority of native eusocial bees of Central and South America are stingless bees, although only a few of them produce honey on a scale such that they are farmed by humans.
Diana
Diana
No comments:
Post a Comment