I know I've written a lot about the honeybee population, but it's the only way I know of to shine a spotlight on the problem--they're disappearing! I don't want to be an alarmist, but I must admit, my heart races at the latest "diminishing honeybee" reports: bee hives down 42% in the past decade. And new research indicates that bees are dying at an alarming rate in warm-weather months. We all know that the winter stresses the bees out (let's face it, it's tough on all of us, so we can relate, right?), but their demise during the spring and summer is distressing. It's the time that these industrious little creatures should be at the top of their game, thriving, and making honey.
As we all know, this is not a new problem. It's been about a decade or so since entomologists started really focusing on the issue. I recall a lively debate in class, with a professor detailing the emerging bee decline back in 2008. In 2009, reports seemed to suggest that the problem was an anomaly, and the bee population was making a healthy resurgence. But just as we were taking a collective sigh of relief, the trend dipped downward once again...and stayed that way.
Why should we care? The answer is obvious: Do we like to eat? If so, we have to ensure the bees have a place in this world. According to a CBS News report, which aired this past Sunday, May 17th, one in three bites of food we place in our mouths is pollinated by honeybees. We've reached a critical point in this issue, and we can't just wait for others to take action. Our government is launching a 15-million-dollar study into the causes, but I sure as heck don't want to wait for bureaucrats to determine what's best for me. I plan to learn all I can about these dying bees--and take action.
As anyone following this blog knows, my research has highlighted a number of potential culprits in bee decline: parasites (see my blog post from June 9th, 2014), human takeover of bee habitats, and pesticide use. We may or may not be able to prevent parasites, but we certainly can do our part not to spread infected bees around, and to make our homes welcoming to these tiny winged warriors. Do I even need to harp on the reasons we shouldn't be using pesticides? As my many posts from the past have pointed out, pesticides KILL. And their continued use, in my humble opinion, will kill us all eventually.
As for the parasites, main culprits seem to be Varroa mites (see my post from July 15th, 2014). Ironically, the use of bee skeps, those charming roped domes used by Colonial farmers, may be causing diseased bees to spread around our neighborhoods. I just discovered that bee skeps are illegal! First of all, the skeps--the bees' homes--have to be destroyed in order to extract the honey. Take away a bee home and food source and what do you get? Dead bees. Additionally, all beekeepers in the U.S. are required to keep honeybees in a hive with frames that can be removed for inspection. The law, set up by the USDA, helps control mite infestation. It's also more humane because you can take a portion of the honey without destroying the bees.
That's not to say we can't do our part to encourage bees into our yards. As my previous posts, mentioned above, detail, we can incorporate bees into our daily lives by setting up hospitable places in our yards (they especially like hollowed-out trees, so think twice about chopping down that dead hickory on the edge of your property). And for goodness sake, don't swat at a curious bee flitting around you! It's not evil incarnate, ready to do battle with the Big Bad Human. It may be attracted to the red shirt or yellow dress you're wearing, thinking there may just be a juicy flower attached to you. It may confuse the soda can emanating sugar vibes with the sweet nectar it seeks. Harsh movements only confuse and frighten bees. Sit still, let it figure you out, and then it will be on its way. Remember, stinging is a bee's defense mechanism. If it doesn't have to defend itself, it won't attack you.
As for pesticide use, let's all make a vow to cut it out. For good. I understand the reasoning behind the need to buy that bottle of bug-killer. We spend untold hours trying to coax plants from the soil, and to see our efforts destroyed by the little buggers is dismaying. How bad could one little bottle be? But if every person across the nation thought this way, there'd be (and are!) millions of bottles out there, spewing toxins into the air, and coating the surface of our planet in life-killing solutions. It's senseless when there are many effective all-natural ways to rid yourselves of mites and bugs that feast on our garden greens. And they're easier than ever to get (see my beneficial bug post from April 28th, 2014). In fact, I'm planning on placing my ladybug and nematode order with Amazon today. Let's encourage critters who feed on foliage-foragers into our green spaces, and the problem will be solved for good!
An evolving attitude about bee decline seems to involve bee practices themselves. The growing sentiment is that many beekeepers are becoming greedy. Just like that slave-driving boss who overworks and underpays employees, many beekeepers appear to be driving the honey-making business into the ground. A number of environmentalists are now focusing on this aspect of colony collapse in the bee world. Modern apiculture has turned hives into big business, treating them like chemical factories--with pest strips hanging inside hives, and doses of tetracycline showered over them to keep mites away. Worker bees seem to have become weary and despondent over these developments. Like anyone who is taken advantage of, they reach a breaking point--a time when it's easier to go elsewhere. Sadly, when the honeybees take off, they leave their unborn young abandoned.
The good news, according to master beekeeper Ross Conrad, author of the wildly popular Natural Beekeeping: Organic Approaches to Modern Apiculture (Chelsea Green Publishing), when we start treating the bees sweetly, they'll return the favor--and stay with us. "Success comes from treating bees organically, by emulating nature," says Conrad.
A new method of beekeeping creating a buzz: Flow Hive, created by a family from Australia, with a hive design that keeps the bees undisturbed as they go about their business. Extracting the honey is as easy as turning on a faucet, which takes the work out of harvesting. The revolutionary idea took off on the crowdsourcing site, Indiegogo in March, raising $5.6 million. Co-inventor Cedar Anderson warns that owners still need to know what they're doing, and inspections are mandatory for ensuring that the bees in their hives are healthy. Anyone interested in starting a hive should link up with local beekeeping groups to learn how to properly care for bees.
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