I Feel the Earth Move…


By Cal Orey “


WORLD WATCH EARTH CHANGES


The Vanishing Honey Bee


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On September 26, the UK’s Daily Mail reported the chill- ing story that up to 12 million bees dropped dead from hundreds of apiaries in the Brevard County, Florida. Local beekeepers and authorities pinpointed pesticides (perhaps from spraying one night by a helicopter for mosquito control) as the culprit. These bees within a one-and-half-mile distance died at the same time and were found on the premises.


So, while this chilling story is about the demise of honey bees and their beekeepers, is the honeymoon over and how will the absence of this insect affect our planet? Here are some questions and answers, straight from experts I inter- viewed for my book The Healing Powers of Honey: A Complete Guide to Nature’s Remarkable Nectar! And the problem has humans in the U.S. and around the globe buzzing.


Where Have All the Honey Bees Gone?


Q. Colony Collapse Disorder was excluded as a cause of the dead bees in the Florida inci- dent. So, what is CCD?


A. Back in 2006, an apiary owner in Lewisburg, Pennsylvania, made the problem known. Penn State researchers took note of the bee colony decline, due to a condition now known as Colony Collapse Disorder (CCD). This condi- tion causes honey bee colonies to simply vanish without a trace—go AWOL leaving their hives in the dust—lend- ing to eerie images of T


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sci-fi films of human and animal extinction. Q. What are some of the theories behind CCD?


A. Theories include climate change, diet, mites, pesti- cides, and viruses. Also, the stress of traveling for pol- lination of crops and the usage of cell phones (perhaps due to the radiation) are in the mixed bag of possi- bilities for why the bees are vanishing and leaving their beekeepers out of work and shocked by losing half or more of their prized colonies to an unknown cause.


Q. How will the die-off of the honey bee affect our food chain?


A. Millions of acres of U.S. fruit, vegetable, oilseed, and legume crops depend on insect pollination—and that includes the sacred honey bees. This little insect gives


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human gifts from the hive but also helps pollinate our crops, home gardens, and wildlife habitat. And don’t forget most beef and dairy products enjoyed in the United States count on insect-pollinated legumes, such as alfalfa and clover. Worse, if the bee disappears our food chain would decline in diversity and quantity, and images of the futuristic doomsday films like S Gen and Te Ra


re h od could become a grave reality. Q. What are scientists doing about CCD?


A. The U.S. Department of Agriculture is trying to help get a handle on Colony Collapse Disorder. In 2010 it dished out $6 million in emergency assistance to beekeepers who had lost their bees. And scientists are busy at work trying to discover what exactly is causing the vanishing of honey bees.


California bee expert Dr. Eric Mussen of UC Davis says, “None of us know why the bees are not as vital as they used to be. In many cases this may be due to lim- ited access to a good varied supply of pollens.” He hopes in our lifetime scientists will discover what is killing the honey bees. “But,” he adds, “even if we find the cause, will we be able to overcome it?”


Q. What can you do to help keep the honey bee alive and well? e Hapnnpeig and I A eed


A. Devote a portion of your property to growing annual and perennial plants the bloom consecutively over the whole season that honey bees are collecting nectar and pollens for food. Reduce the pesticides of all kinds to a minimum. In areas with extended dry periods, supply fresh water in a way so that visiting bees don’t become a nuisance.


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Oracle 20/20 November 2011


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