What is happening to the honey bees, and how we can help
Introduction
For years, entire populations of honey bees have been mysteriously vanishing. At first, people did not know the cause. But now, experts have determined the problem. It is human caused. Bees are dying at an alarming rate because of the use of man-made, synthetic, pesticides. However, we can help reverse this devastation. The vanishing of bees, called Colony Collapse Disorder (CCD), is an important global issue that we can solve on a local level.
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What is happening
Beekeepers are convinced that the deaths of the honey bees are human-caused by the use of pesticide, herbicide, and fungicide on our food production crops. The use of pesticides is causing Colony Collapse Disorder. According to David Hackenberg, a longtime beekeeper from Florida, the lifespan of honey bees has also dropped to about thirty days and they use to survive for about twice that. (Reiley, L. 2019)
“Colony Collapse Disorder is the phenomenon that occurs when the majority of worker bees in a colony disappear and leave behind a queen, plenty of food, and a few nurse bees to care for the remaining immature bees and the queen.” EPA.Gov
Colony Collapse Disorder, has been linked to the use of pesticides particularly the ones that contain neonicotinoid which mimics the effects of nicotine.
The following are EPA approved neonicotinoid pesticides (also known as neonics) that are used on crops and sold in the U.S. market for home use:
Colony Collapse Disorder, has been linked to the use of pesticides particularly the ones that contain neonicotinoid which mimics the effects of nicotine.
The following are EPA approved neonicotinoid pesticides (also known as neonics) that are used on crops and sold in the U.S. market for home use:
Although the use of neonics pesticides on crops is EPA approved they are very deadly to honey bees. Bees get addicted to them just like people get addicted to nicotine. The following are three major problems with using neonics pesticides on crops:
In 2019, the EPA under the Trump administration reinstated the use of sulfoxaflor saying that it was not as harmful to the bees and as the result, the United States had seen a record-breaking colony loss from previous years of honey bees due to the Colony Collapse Disorder. The colony loss was almost 40% at a loss of 37.7 percent which was the highest that they have ever recorded since they began doing surveys on honey bee colonies.(Reiley, L. 2019)
- Neonics make it hard for the bees to groom themselves. Which makes them prone to getting harmful mites and poor health.
- Neonics confuse the bees and they get lost on their way home to the hive. If they can’t make it back to the hive they will die because they are not solitary bees they must live with others to stay warm and protected.
- When the honey bees do not get lost they bring the neonics back to the hive and spread this pesticide to the other bees and contaminate the honey which leads to massive bee death of the whole colony.
In 2019, the EPA under the Trump administration reinstated the use of sulfoxaflor saying that it was not as harmful to the bees and as the result, the United States had seen a record-breaking colony loss from previous years of honey bees due to the Colony Collapse Disorder. The colony loss was almost 40% at a loss of 37.7 percent which was the highest that they have ever recorded since they began doing surveys on honey bee colonies.(Reiley, L. 2019)
Why we should care
Understanding why CCD is happening to the bees and what we can do to help is important for everyone because according to the Division of Agriculture, honey bee’s are responsible for pollinating more than 80% of cultivated crops. They are responsible for pollinating hundreds of different fruits and vegetables that we eat every day and without their pollination, we would see less variety of food on our dinner tables.
Most of the fruits and vegetables that we rely on to make our favorite recipes are the results of the pollination process. honey bees help pollinate the tomatoes that we use to make ketchup for our cheeseburgers, the allspice that we use every Fall in our hot pumpkin pies to watermelon that we like to eat on a hot Summer's day. There are so many different recipes that we as people make each day made possible from the pollination of honey bees. People depend on this pollination to survive and to be able to have a completely balanced diet.
What we can do about it
We can overturn the devastating effects of using neonics pesticides in our communities. It is time that we take action and help the honey bees out. It is our duty to fix this because it is our fault that they are dying. It is our moral duty to pay them back for providing us with all the food that we like to eat. It doesn't take much to help the honey bees and anyone can help.
Seven easy ways you can help the bees in your community.
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Together, we can help the bees!
Over the past years, The vanishing of bees has been a mystery but with research, it has been proven that the use of pesticides that contain neonicotinoid is contributing to the disappearance of bees from all over the world. Our food supply depends on the pollination success of bees and it is our duty to help them survive by providing them safe places to live. Their success helps us eat a healthy balanced diet. With the help of people everywhere, Colony Collapse Disorder can be a thing of the past. We depend on the bees for pollination of the many foods that we eat every day.
Over the past years, The vanishing of bees has been a mystery but with research, it has been proven that the use of pesticides that contain neonicotinoid is contributing to the disappearance of bees from all over the world. Our food supply depends on the pollination success of bees and it is our duty to help them survive by providing them safe places to live. Their success helps us eat a healthy balanced diet. With the help of people everywhere, Colony Collapse Disorder can be a thing of the past. We depend on the bees for pollination of the many foods that we eat every day.
Works Cited
Abbott, Chuck. “EPA Approves Sulfoxaflor as Crop Insecticide After Studying Impact on Bees.” Successful Farming, Successful Farming, 17 July 2019, www.agriculture.com/news/crops/epa-approves-sulfoxaflor-as-crop-insecticide-after-studying-impact-on-bees.
Bees as Pollinators: Arkansas Pollinators. (n.d.). Retrieved October 06, 2020, from https://www.uaex.edu/farm-ranch/special-programs/beekeeping/pollinators.aspx
“Cities Buzzing With Bees.” Professional Safety, vol. 64, no. 10, Oct. 2019, p. 64. EBSCOhost, search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=buh&AN=138931499&site=eds-live.
Colony Collapse Disorder. (2018, April 26). Retrieved October 06, 2020, from https://www.epa.gov/pollinator-protection/colony-collapse-disorder
Hackenberg Apiaries. (n.d.). Retrieved October 06, 2020, from https://hackenbergapiaries.us/about-hackenberg-apiaries/
Joseph S. Wilson, and Olivia J. Messinger Carril. The Bees in Your Backyard : A Guide to North America’s Bees. Princeton University Press, 2016. EBSCOhost, search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=nlebk&AN=1063806&site=eds-live.
Reiley, L. (2019, July 05). This past winter saw the highest honeybee colony losses on record. Retrieved October 06, 2020, from https://www.washingtonpost.com/business/2019/07/05/last-winter-saw-highest-honeybee-colony-losses-record/
“Trump Administration Lifts Ban on Pesticides Linked to Declining Bee Numbers”. 4 Aug. 2018, www.theguardian.com/environment/2018/aug/04/trump-administration-lifts-ban-on-pesticides-linked-to-declining-bee-numbers.
“Vanishing of the Bees.” Films On Demand, Films Media Group, 2009, fod.infobase.com/PortalPlaylists.aspx?wID=102595&xtid=53226. Accessed 30 Sept. 2020.
Image source: “37 Million Bees Found Dead in Ontario”, GMO Corn Field The Cause?
Image source: Master Class Homemade Pumpkin Pie
Image source: Neonicotinoid
Image source: Honey Bees Make Honey... And... Bread
Bees as Pollinators: Arkansas Pollinators. (n.d.). Retrieved October 06, 2020, from https://www.uaex.edu/farm-ranch/special-programs/beekeeping/pollinators.aspx
“Cities Buzzing With Bees.” Professional Safety, vol. 64, no. 10, Oct. 2019, p. 64. EBSCOhost, search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=buh&AN=138931499&site=eds-live.
Colony Collapse Disorder. (2018, April 26). Retrieved October 06, 2020, from https://www.epa.gov/pollinator-protection/colony-collapse-disorder
Hackenberg Apiaries. (n.d.). Retrieved October 06, 2020, from https://hackenbergapiaries.us/about-hackenberg-apiaries/
Joseph S. Wilson, and Olivia J. Messinger Carril. The Bees in Your Backyard : A Guide to North America’s Bees. Princeton University Press, 2016. EBSCOhost, search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=nlebk&AN=1063806&site=eds-live.
Reiley, L. (2019, July 05). This past winter saw the highest honeybee colony losses on record. Retrieved October 06, 2020, from https://www.washingtonpost.com/business/2019/07/05/last-winter-saw-highest-honeybee-colony-losses-record/
“Trump Administration Lifts Ban on Pesticides Linked to Declining Bee Numbers”. 4 Aug. 2018, www.theguardian.com/environment/2018/aug/04/trump-administration-lifts-ban-on-pesticides-linked-to-declining-bee-numbers.
“Vanishing of the Bees.” Films On Demand, Films Media Group, 2009, fod.infobase.com/PortalPlaylists.aspx?wID=102595&xtid=53226. Accessed 30 Sept. 2020.
Image source: “37 Million Bees Found Dead in Ontario”, GMO Corn Field The Cause?
Image source: Master Class Homemade Pumpkin Pie
Image source: Neonicotinoid
Image source: Honey Bees Make Honey... And... Bread