Another article on the disappearing bees, this one from The New York Times. It includes this:
Honeybees are arguably the insects that are most important to the human food chain. They are the principal pollinators of hundreds of fruits, vegetables, flowers and nuts. The number of bee colonies has been declining since the 1940s, even as the crops that rely on them, such as California almonds, have grown. . . .
Bee colonies have been under stress in recent years as more beekeepers have resorted to crisscrossing the country with 18-wheel trucks full of bees in search of pollination work. These bees may suffer from a diet that includes artificial supplements, concoctions akin to energy drinks and power bars. In several states, suburban sprawl has limited the bees’ natural forage areas.
Good Lord; what have we done to our environment? “Mad Bee Disease” or Bee AIDS or Bee Cancer or Trucker Bees. Bee’s definitely don’t spell relief with Bayer.
It will be interesting to see what comes out of these studies.
Thanks.