Honey Bee Deaths Explored
What's causing the major scale of honey bee deaths we've seen in recent years? Why are there so many reports of bees dying, and why have so many bees disappeared?
On this website we take a look at a range of issues.
Perhaps one issue that has received less attention, is the fact that it's not only honey bees that are disappearing which is causing alarm. Other bee species and pollinators are also showing severe declines.
So, in summary, there are 2 broad issues:
- sudden collapse or disproportionately high demise of whole colonies of honey bees, where pesticides and disease are implicated (and also, a link between the two is suggested);
- general declines of wild bees and pollinators, including factors such as habitat loss.
Take a look at the following links to the different angles of this theme. Some of the links provide quite general information concerning all bee species, but the information is nevertheless relevant to honey bees.
Neonicotinoid Pesticides
Quick Introduction
Neonicotinoid pesticides are suspected by many to be causing honey bee
deaths, as well as being harmful to other species. This page provides
some background information about this class of pesticides, and how they
work on insects.
Neonicotinoid Pesticides And Bees
This
page links into further, in-depth information about this topic. It
considers areas not always well publicized, such as the information
manufacturers have published, and what it might reveal in terms of the
potential harm these chemicals are doing. Find out about the flawed
regulatory tests, and influence of the agrochemical lobby. Link to an
important page that exposes flawed myths and arguments used to defend
these chemicals.
Is There Global Evidence Neonicotinoids Harm Bees?
Just a few of the many examples that could have been provided.
Pesticide Studies
Here we examine a sample of the independent studies on neonicotinoid pesticides. There are also links to further reports.
The ICPBR
Who are they and what are their activities?
The Agrochemical Industry View of Pollinators
Based on their own published information.
Farmers Must Have Independent Information
I'm a firm believer that farmers deserve truly independent information about the threat of crop pests. In some countries, they are getting this information from agronomists who are on commission from the agrochemical industry for selling their pesticides. Independent research has shown farmers are applying pesticides unecessarily.
Diseases And Mites
Varroa Destructor
Varroa mite can decimate colonies of honey bees very quickly. Learn more about Varroa, as well as treatment options available.
Neonicotinoids And Bees: Nosema
Is there a link between nosema and neonicotinoids? Also, an article about the UK government
handling of increased nosema cases in honey bees in England and Wales.
Colony Collapse Disorder (CCD)
There
is no fixed definition of this phenomenon. Perhaps it is merely a term
to describe a range of unusual levels of relatively rapid demise in
honey bee colonies - but perhaps the root cause is a common one.
Background Information
Why Do Honey Bees Matter?
Some argue that where honey bees are not native to the country in which they live, so it does not matter if
they become extinct.
Find out why this argument of convenience simply doesn't stack up. Honey bees have a broader role in conservation than pollination. We ignore the signs that honey bees are giving us at our peril!
General
information about the broader issues threatening all bees as well as
other pollinators, from loss of habitat to diseases and pesticides.
Pssst ... spread the word!
