There are nearly 20,000 known species of bees in seven to nine recognized families, and probably many more not yet identified.
European honey bees, the type we are most familiar with, are not the only kind that makes honey and certainly just one of many that could be used for pollination of crops. It is also rather prone to disease and deadly mites.
And effort to breed a hardier bee resulted in the “killer bee”, that despite its reputation *is* more resistant *and* produces delicious honey. If its aggression can just be turned down, it could fill much of the gap of the honey bee.
But even more important, one of the reasons that bee diseases and mite infections are so bad is because honey bees are not used just for honey, but are transported around to pollinate, which exposes them to these problems.
Thus a good solution is to limit honey bees to just producing honey, hopefully a crossbred variety that is more resistant. Then use a different bee, that is as good, or better, for pollination. Hopefully one that does not interact much with honey bees.
You are right on the “shipping around for pollination”, which is done because the honey does not make the keepers enough money.
***Then use a different bee, that is as good, or better, for pollination. Hopefully one that does not interact much with honey bees.***
I’m looking into these guys for my fruit production:
They are much more effective pollinators than honeybees apparently.
How about just not using bee-killing insecticides?