Honeybees Are A Major Source Of Food

Honey bees are one of the world’s most fascinating insects. Although dangerous when provoked many people underestimate there economic importance into our global system. It is a well known fact that bees are great pollinators and are responsible for most of the food we eat but unfortunately the bee population has been in decline for a few years due to Colony Collapse Disorder also known as (CCD). There are many reasons for the decline in bee population. Some of the reasons are that the human population is evidently increasing at a demanding rate. So the need for more land to create property, demand in food is growing meaning an increase of pesticides.

Concern in relation to global bee populations has become increasingly prevalent in recent years. The primary cause of this has been a large scale population decline of both wild and domestic varieties, this can be seen within the US (Fig.1) as honey bee population experienced a 59% reduction in colonies between 1945 and 2008 (van Englesdorp et al. 2008). These findings have been supported elsewhere with experts observing similar changes in the UK with 3 of 25 bumblebee species native to the UK having become extinct since 1950 (Goulson et al. 2008). The significance of these findings are great; partly due to the importance of bees in areas such as pollination and honey production, as well as other implications of the data such as ethical issues.

The honey bee population is going down, and while most people think it doesn't really matter or just don’t notice it, they should because it is a very big problem. I think the other people should try and change that. If bees die then it will not be good, at all. In this persuasive piece of writing, I will be trying to make people rethink about the bee population, and what it could potentially do to the human race.

There are many things believed to be the cause of bee endangerment. Of the survey conducted, 18% believe the cause is from chemicals used on plants such as pesticides; 25% believe it is because people do not like bees and kill them; 13% believe it is from habitat destruction; 25 % believe it is from natural causes. Overall, the general population is correct with regard to why bees have become endangered. Lauren Bennett says the main cause of the rapid decline in bee populations is from natural causes such as global warming and colony collapse disorder, which is when bees abandon their hive and causes the hive to die as well. Marla Spivak, says it is from parasites. Henry Samuel says it is from neonicotinoids, which is a pesticide that is similar to nicotine.

Bees are disappearing because people are using harmful fertilizers. 25% of the managed bee population has dropped since 1990. The use of these harmful pesticides can cause a hive of bees to collapse. This is known as colony collapse disorder (CCD).

Global Research of CA has found that just within the last five years, “30% of the national bee population has disappeared and nearly a third of all bee colonies in the U.S. have perished.” (Statistic, Global Research Of California)

Bee decline is an increasing issue in the United states of America. An article written by the University of Vermont reveals a map of over 139 troubled zones for the population of bees and why they might be endangered. The University of Vermont is a well-respected establishment when it comes to research and Agriculture.

According to the article, Honey Bee Heath and Colony Collapse Disorder, honey bees around the U.S are slowly and puzzlingly disappearing. This slow disappearance of the honey bee population is caused by a disorder known as Colony Collapse Disorder (CCD.) Colony Collapse Disorder causes adult honey bees to completely “vanish” leaving behind only the queen bee along with immature bees. Although this disease is receiving a lot of attention and research on CCD is taking place, the causes and treatments for Colony Collapse Disorder are still undefinable as well. Some may ask, “Who cares? Why is it important that bees are disappearing?” It is important because bees are the foundation to U.S agriculture and they are vital to worldwide economic stability which is why finding the cause and treatment for CCD is a top priority for scientists and researchers around the world.

Studies have shown that the percentage of the amount of bee deaths have majorly increased. During past years surveys were sent out to commercial and small-time bee farmers on their total annual loss of honey bee colonies. During the 2012 and 2013 time period the annual total loss of bee colonies was at a peak of 45% of all their colonies. The 2013 and 2014 time period dropped to 34%. Then the 2014 and 2015 time period took a 7% percent jump leaving it around 41%. The most recent and influential is the 2015 and 2016 time period, from the past year it took a 3.1% percent jump to 44.1%, and this is of 48 states. At this rate we could be losing tons of bees and that sweet honey. But why are these bees dying so quickly, some might blame it to the

Furthermore, The United State Honey bee colonies lost over 30% when experience winter (vanEngelsdorp, 2008), (Neumann, 2). The colony losses affect the honey producing colonies reduces about 12% between 2014 and 2015 (NASS, 2017). Not to mention, vanEngelsdorp references that honey bee health is challenged on many fronts (2008). In the same article, He studies on these five causes of colony loses. Firsts, parasite such as the varroa mite which have been studied in Europe (Zee, 2014). Poor queen is also causing colony losses (vanEngelsdorp, 2008). The poor queen will provide low morality of her worker (Pettis, 2016). Thirst, starvation can also cause colonies losses (vanEngelsdorp, 2008). Normally, Beekeeper can feed their honey bee colonies by using sucrose or high fructose corn syrup and artificial protein diets (vanEngelsdorp , 2010). However, bee worker can’t go out and look for honey in winter time so they completely depend on the beekeeper. As if they don’t have enough food for whole colonies, then that colony will collapse or weaken. Fourth, the honey bee is very sensitive to weather and climate around them (Switnanek, 2017). In addition, climate impact significantly to vegetation, which also affects the honey bee (Switnanek, 2017). Also, the climate could have a greater influence on the parasites and diseases (Switnanek, 2017). Fifth, Colony collapse disorder (CCD) is one of the syndrome to affect

What are the causes in the decline of HoneyBee populations, and their colonies? Bee extinction, it’s only the bee-ginning. We swat at them, we spray them, we kill them. Has anyone ever thought of the importance of the honeybees people are trying to eliminate?

Colony Collapse Disorder not only affects honey bees, but they also affects wild bees. Richard Gerber quotes “Many people would be surprised to know that 90% of the feral (wild) bee population in the United States has died out” (Gerber). With 90 percent of wild bees extinct, this astounding number really makes you wonder if this goes above and beyond the issues researchers are looking into. Is there something else that researchers and scientist may be overlooking for there to be such a diminishing population of wild bees? Gerber says that since 2007, 22 states have reported tens of thousands of honey

Many know the bee population is declining, but it is not widely known why that even matters. Bees are the main pollinators of the crops we grow. Without bees, the crop yield would suffer. Although there has been many studies researching why the bees are disappearing, most signs are pointing towards insecticides. Regardless of the cause, the population of bees is declining, and we need to do something.

To make just one pound of honey, bees must visit at least two million flowers. In a year, a bee colony makes 60 to 100 pounds of honey for us to enjoy. Unfortunately the bees, the only insect that create honey, are slowly dying and becoming extinct. Hives and hives of bees are ingesting pesticides, called neonictinoids, that many farmers and other people use on their crops, causing death and endangerment, which is exactly why the United States must ban the harmful neonictinoids.

Hope all is well and everything is going great. Last week I noticed your inquiry on the absence in honeybees via email and I want to say I am grateful that you have asked. Let me go ahead and give you a full insight on how bee populations are currently declining. However, before we go ahead and dive into full details, I want to first introduce you to why we humans idolize honeybees so much. Within these details I will examine the biological characteristics of honeybees, their contribution to nature and humanity, the effects in the ecosystem because of colony declination, two assumptions on why this disappearance is happening, and finally, a suggestion on how you can make a difference.