Free Republic
Browse · Search
Bloggers & Personal
Topics · Post Article

To: lowbridge

Yes, just what is killing all the bees?

In a muted but growing crisis, the numbers of both wild and domesticated bees have been falling, resulting in a serious long-term threat to production of a number of different crops, particularly fruits. If it is the application of certain types of insecticides, then most certainly, that should be stopped or sharply curbed. If it is the spreading of some viral or bacterial infection, or some form of parasites on the bees, then effective methods of control should be devised and distributed at the earliest practical time. Or worst of all, because of genetic weaknesses that have crept into and been distributed throughout the various varieties and species of bees, that make them vulnerable to other outside influences, is there some clever young practitioner of beekeeping that can identify and suggest countermeasures?

Way more questions than answers so far.


10 posted on 05/28/2013 7:07:41 AM PDT by alloysteel (If you want to see the true measure of a man, watch how he treats his inferiors, not his equals.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies ]


To: alloysteel; lowbridge
Yes, just what is killing all the bees?

Try this conspiracy theory: 1. Monsanto has genetically modified crops with insecticide producing genes in them. The bees that eat the pollen of these crops die.

2. In the meantime, Monsanto genetically modifies bees to be resistant to the insecticide, and 3. patents the bee sequence. 4. Any beekeepers found to have these bees in their hives that have not paid Monsanto for them are shut down and the bees destroyed. 5. Pretty soon, Monsanto owns a patent on pollenation.

1 - 3 are fact. There are lawsuits in litigation today that are working on #4.
29 posted on 05/28/2013 7:25:44 AM PDT by SpinnerWebb (In 2012 you will awaken from your HOPEnosis and have no recollection of this... "Constitution")
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 10 | View Replies ]

To: alloysteel

I read that sun activity also affects bees navigation and there may be a correlation between bee disappearance and sun activity. Apparently there was a similar bee loss about 60 years ago.


30 posted on 05/28/2013 7:25:53 AM PDT by FreeAtlanta
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 10 | View Replies ]

To: alloysteel

Just remember that three bites of food out of every five that you put in your mouth come from foods that have been pollenated by a honeybee.

It’s a serious issue.


45 posted on 05/28/2013 7:34:20 AM PDT by Colonel_Flagg (Blather. Reince. Repeat.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 10 | View Replies ]

To: alloysteel

Mites are one major problem:

http://www.ca.uky.edu/entomology/entfacts/ef608.asp


69 posted on 05/28/2013 8:03:22 AM PDT by Carriage Hill (Guns kill people, pencils misspell words, cars drive drunk & spoons make you fat.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 10 | View Replies ]

To: alloysteel

All I know is here in NE ohio I had two brand new honey bee nests last year in my li’l suburban yard. One didn’t survive the winter, but the other did. I kill the hornets/yellow jackets/wasps that show up but I’ve told the family the honey bees and bumble bees are off limits.


79 posted on 05/28/2013 8:25:40 AM PDT by reed13k (For evil to triumph it is only necessary for good men to do nothing.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 10 | View Replies ]

Free Republic
Browse · Search
Bloggers & Personal
Topics · Post Article


FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson