Beekeepers Utilize Internet to Fight Mystery 'Disorder'
by Sami Grover, Carrboro, NC, USA on 03. 4.07
As many Treehuggers will know, the humble honey bee is a vital ally for us humans. Not only does it provide us with honey, but it also plays a huge role in pollinating many of the plants we rely on for food. In fact, a cucumber blossom needs upwards of 11 visits from honey bees to ensure adequate pollination. This is perhaps why there has been so much attention in the media lately to a mystery phenomenon (that we already reported on here) that is wiping out hives across North America. Reports of Colony Collapse Disorder (CCD), as the syndrome has become known, have sky-rocketed in the last year, catching the attention of the Discovery Channel and the Washington Post, among others. Some of the beekeepers we have spoken to suggest that media coverage may be a little exaggerated, but there is no doubt that they are still worried. The causes of CCD are not yet clear, but environmental stresses, pests, pathogens and excessive pesticide use have all been cited as possible suspects.
Luckily, the internet is proving a very valuable resource for beekeepers wishing to find out more about CCD, and for researchers to gather information on possible incidents of CCD. Beekeeping groups around the country have compiled lists of information, links and guidance, and a Colony Collapse Disorder Working Group has been set up to speed up research into this worrying phenomenon. Individual beekeepers can help out by completing an online survey. Let’s hope such collaborative efforts are successful in getting to the bottom of this problem. In the meantime, it seems as good a time as any to remind you to support your local beekeepers.
Beekeepers that are getting/allowing their bees to forage on real pollen instead of the mixed sugar junk are showing much less of a loss from CCD.
That and the repeated shock of the numerous pollination season colony transfers are not keeping the bees healthy.
I have a friend with several beehives and she hasn't mentioned any problems with hers either. i have a feeling this is more of a problem with commercial bee keepers, as is usually the case with these things. You certainly don't hear people with small backyard chicken flocks complaining about bird flu do you.
Hello,
Read the problem with the bee problem which is globnal in nature. It appears that there has been a simultaneous drop off In bee populations as well as other insects. Some of this attributed to habitat loss, pollution, pesticide use etc.
I have been doing research on the helath effects of microwave radiation on humans, either from cell phones, masts, towers etc.
What is notable is that insects and other life forms are equally affected by emf. There are some interesting studies showing that bees can be disoriented by the application of emf. And indeed there is the commerical application, ie to lawns to keep down insect populations.
However most insects adn other animals are highly attuned to the electromagnectic signaling of the earth and use it to orient themselves. Most animals put in a disfavorable enviornment will flee.
I suspect that the simultaneous drop off in insect populations worldwide mirrors and parrellels the rise in electormagnectic technologies, particularily those that are related to the transmission of most of our communications network which is worldwide, which utilizes microwave radiation.
Most of these technologies are new and have not been studied in depth.
Sincerly
G. goldberg, MD
author"Would you put your head in a microwave oven"
My father used to raise bees. Yesterday, my daughter had an exterminator look in her attic, where a colony has set up honey combs. I wish there were a way to save the bees instead of killing them. Maybe bees are colonizing homes because of lack of proper nesting places in Southern California, (Temecula). If all bees are dying, why not relocate them, rather than killing them? My phone number is (951)252-4572.