We could sure use some down on the border.
Posted on 08/05/2014 1:43:03 PM PDT by Olog-hai
With honeybees on the decline because of Colony Collapse Disorder (CCD) and Varroa mites, a virus-transmitting parasite, Harvard engineering and applied sciences professor, Robert Wood invented Robobees, bee-size robots “inspired by the biology of a bee and the insect’s hive behavior.” […]
Despite the hype surrounding these amazing robobees, before farmers go out and try to buy them, they should note that researchers anticipate robobees won’t be functional for at least another 20 years. …
(Excerpt) Read more at cnsnews.com ...
I think they’re talked about something similar before...maybe in regard to.....doing recon in caves in Afghanistan.
good idea but what about the frogs?
We could sure use some down on the border.
[ I doubt that the government would pass up this opportunity to develop mini-drones, this time literally based on drones (the male bee). ]
Robot Bee Prime Directives:
1. Uphold the Polination Policy
2. Proect the Honey Hive
3. Do Not sting the Innocent
...
(hidden)
4. Spy for the Adminstration...
Ironically in this regard, drones do not have stings. Workers (sterile females) and the queen bee have them.
Revelation 9:10
And they had tails like unto scorpions, and there were stings in their tails: and their power was to hurt men five months.
There area about 100 other species of insects that also do pollination in addition to bees.
Now this sounds like something right out of the Hunger Games.
What could go wrong?
Science Collapse Disorder -- The Real Story Behind Neonics And Mass Bee Deaths
http://www.forbes.com/sites/jonentine/2013/04/11/science-collapse-disorder-the-real-story-behind-neonics-and-mass-bee-deaths/
Also, many species of birds and bats engage in pollination. Wild bananas in particular need fruit bats for that purpose.
Has anyone considered that both invasive bee species and GM flowering plants may have something to do with what is hurting bees?
There are nearly 20,000 known species of bees in seven to nine recognized families, though many are undescribed and the actual number is probably higher. About 4,000 species in the United States.
Of these, the only bee used extensively for both honey and pollenization is the European honey bee. Because it is vulnerable to parasites and diseases, an effort was made to cross breed it with the hardier African honey bee, which were introduced in Brazil, escaped, and now are known as “killer bees”.
Interestingly, killer bees *are* healthier and stronger, and their honey is quite delicious, if rare, so the research was going in the right direction. It is believed that with further cross breeding, they can be made less aggressive.
With Beespar?
Plus there’s the fact that our food supply is heavily weighted toward grans which are pollinated by wind.
On a roll, aren’t ya’!
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.