Scientists and Soldiers Solve a Bee Mystery

Sorry, was not aware that the “american honey bee” was brought over from Europe. I have always seen “american bees” in association with colony collapse so I assumed that they were native.

Thanks for the info.

Concerning pesticide residue, if you are afraid of injesting pesticides, wash the fruits or vegetables before eating.

I wish it were that easy, but it's not. Some pesticides penetrate the skin, so washing doesn't help much. This is generally true of fruits and veggies that don't have a thick peal. So we buy organic apples, peaches, spinach, etc. We generally don't buy organic banannas, mangos, organces, etc.

http://blogs.consumerreports.org/health/2010/08/organic-produce-washing-produce-to-reduce-pesticides-when-to-buy-organic.html

Plus, I can't stand that wax coating they put on conventional apples. I know it can be removed, but it's a pain. It's worth the extra ten cents or so to buy an apple that I can just rinse and pop into my mouth.

As I alluded in my previous post, 'Organic' is a hoax. Certain growers have gone to it because it was lucrative. But, since Obamanomics, organic is actually returning to the grower less than conventional.

For you information organic growers spray more than conventional growers and many time the compounds that are labeled for organic are more toxic than those labeled for conventional use.

In addition, all systemic compounds have been banned from use on fruits. They can no longer be used. If they are used and the periodic checks of samples that occur in the cold storages test positive for those banned compounds, then the whole crop is red-tagged and must be destroyed. I know growers who have experienced that.

So, if it makes you feel better to spend the extra money, do so, but know that you are wasting your money.

p.s. All fruit have a natural wax. The fruit is generally dumped into a water flume, the natural wax taken off, some sort of disinfectant(chlorine or ozone) utilized to kill any bacteria and fungal spores. The fruit is dried and a wax applied. The wax not only gives the fruit a shine, but seals the microscopic scratches applied to the fruit during the cleaning process. Plus, the wax keeps the scratches from being infected with fungal spores in the handling when the fruit is put on the market shelf.

I moved a few months ago over to a different part of the lake, and in the new house placed the hummingbird feeder right outside my window, for closer watching.

These little bitches

That we know as hornets or yellow jackets, were tackling honeybees at the nectar outlet and stinging them to death all the way to the ground.

I have no doubt the hornets have stung out the honeybees.

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