The Honey Bee : The Consequences And Effects Of Honey Bees

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).

This paper reviews the phenomenon of Colony Collapse Disorder (CCD), or the disappearance of large swathes of the bee population in the US and elsewhere. It reviews the potential causes of CCD, including pathogens, pesticides, and other environmental factors that could contribute to bee deaths. Although many have linked the widespread use of pesticides to the phenomenon, there is no 'smoking gun' that is clearly implicated in causing CCD. The phenomenon can likely be attributed to a wide variety of factors, rather than a singular cause.

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.

The bees never seem to catch a break which is putting the bees under “stress” which is a factor. Furthermore, when they are pollinating all these different plants some are not nutritious as others, for example cucumbers aren’t as healthy as some of the other plants but there is still a demand for them, so the bees still have to work and eventually become unhealthy if they aren’t getting the right nutrients. Another factor is pesticides, which has many different points of view but overall it has come to decided it is not the pesticides themselves that are killing masses of bees but it is lowering their immune system and making it easier for them to get sick, for example with the common parasite Nosema. Nosema is a parasite in the digestive track of the honey bee that attacks the entire hive and can eventually wipe out the whole hive. The effects of the pesticides are ultimately never letting the hives reach their maximum potential, which in the end could render the hives weak and lethargic. There are so many pesticides out there it is hard to tell exactly what component in the pesticide is hurting the bees. It is recently found that the inert ingredients used often to boost the effectiveness of the pesticide are actually more harmful than the actual toxic ingredients

Of particular interest is the fact that, despite the risk to native fauna and flora, honey produced by the European honey bee is a major industry

Bees are important pollinators of many plants in the ecosystem (2). Recently, the decline in the number of bees in North America and Europe has shifted the research focus of many ecologists towards pesticide use (2). The impacts of pesticides on bees and other pollinators can have a major influence on honey production and biodiversity.

A juicy apple. Pumpkin pie. Crisp almonds. Tangy oranges and grapefruit. None of these foods would survive without the hard work of honeybees. Unfortunately, in the last two years, United States beekeepers reported a loss of over 44% of honeybee colonies. Similarly, Europe has experienced a 25% loss and the United Kingdom has experienced a 45% loss. These numbers are staggering. What is causing this sharp decrease in the honey bee population? What are the long term impacts of a declining honey bee population? These questions must be explored because, like Albert Camus’ absurd hero, Sisyphus, and J. Howard Miller’s iconic hero, Rosie the Riveter, honeybees are vigilant in their tiring, though inspired, efforts toward a particular goal—in this

Bees are some of the most feared insects on the planet but aside from their sting they are quite a complex and beneficial creature. There are over 20,000 species of bees on the planet (Spivak,2013). They are often associated with honey however, they play a far more important role, they pollinate. Bees are responsible for about 80 percent of pollination worldwide and a single colony is able to pollinate upwards of 300 million flowers each day (Greenpeace.org). Although there are ways for human pollination it is often a painstaking and time-consuming process. Studies have also shown that human pollination is not as effective (Spivak, 2013)). With 90 percent of the worlds nutrition dependent upon bees we need to support the bees with pollination (Greenpeace.org). If we want to continue enjoying the many foods bees provide for us we

Honeybees are considered a keystone species because of the extremely important role they play in supporting and pollinating a large variety of ecosystems. Human beings are also reliant on the services that honeybees provide, and often use them in commercial greenhouses and orchards to ensure proper pollination. Although much research has been done to try and discover the cause of the dying bees, no single factor has been determined. However, if the problem remains unsolved, it could lead to disastrous economic an ecological changes.

I am writing to inform you regarding a noteworthy issue that is concerning the world. One that expects you to take immediate action and prevent the consequences that would ultimately allow the bees to continue to suffer. Albeit little in size, honey bees and different pollinators are essential in the creation of sustenance for people and numerous animals. Around 33% of our crops desire pollination, that would diminish production without these crucial bees. (sos-bees.org) Of the whole U.S. farming industry, $29 billion originate from crops that require pollination. (cnn.com) Despite their undeniable significance, honey bee populaces have gotten little consideration and are discovering it progressively hard to survive.

Bee extinction is an important topic for the beekeepers to discuss. It could prove fatal if it continues over a period of time. These bees are decreasing by thousands every month and beekeepers are having to do double time on their work. Honeybees pollinate more than 90 percent of all crops so without bees food would decrease by approximately 90 percent. For every 3 bites we eat ⅓ of the food is pollinated by bees. Scientist call this The Colony Collapse Disorder. More than 15$ billion dollars a year in U.S crops are

As well as learning the various causes of CCD, one must also understand the importance of bees, in terms of pollination, in order to better grasp the gravity of the bee decline. Arguably, one of the most important aspects of the bee is its ability to quickly and efficiently pollinate plants. One might argue that the bee decline isn’t as great a problem as it’s made out to be, simply because there are other species of pollinators and methods of pollination. Though this argument is partially true, it doesn’t take into account just how much of the world’s wild plants and commercially-grown food crops are pollinated by the bee alone. According to Priesnitz, “honeybees are the most effective pollinators in the world and [are] responsible for pollinating eighty percent of all food crops” (Priesnitz). As one might infer from this, the impact the bee has on the world, in terms of pollination, is immense. This is primarily due to the bee’s ability to quickly and efficiently pollinate various wild plants and food crops. To help further grasp the bee’s impact on the pollination of the world’s crops, one can view the amount of money generated by crops that were pollinated by bees.

Abstract Bees are the backbone of agriculture and they are the main reason we have plants in our garden. It is no mystery where the term worker bee came from, because 90% of crops cannot grow without the pollination of bees (6). In addition to pollinating a vast amount of nature, they also make creations of their own, and produce a surplus of honey. The taxonomy for these organisms is classified as Apis mellifera.

The non-native honey bee, Apis mellifera L., plays an important role in plant pollination services, pollinating 90% of commercially insect-pollinated crops (Steffan-Dewenter et al., 2005). Additionally, they produce honey, which is an important international commodity. Understanding the ecology of honey bees is imperative as humans are becoming increasingly reliant on pollination services for food production. With the upsurge of backyard beekeeping (Salkin, 2012) it is imperative to understand and protect this species. However, according to(vanEngelsdorp and Meixner, 2010), honey bee populations are declining in the United States due to several factors, including such stressors as parasites, pesticides, and fungal and bacterial infections. The cumulative impact of these issues can lead to Colony Collapse Disorder (CCD), where honey bees leave the hive and never return, though the exact cause(s) of CCD is currently unknown. Honey bees require specific resources within a certain distance to their hive, and it is helpful for beekeepers and land managers to recognize this relationship in order to maintain healthy and efficient hives. A healthy beehive is more adaptable to a changing climate and can better withstand environmental pressures, and healthy bees promote the reproduction of crops and other plants that humans deeply rely on. Therefore, it is imperative for beekeepers to maintain healthy hives and to understand the best practices for honeybees. The

Honey bees, feared by the misinformed and admired by the intelligent, are dying. The interest in bees from many environmentalists is not for a sudden cause, as this issue is not new to the world. Honey bees as a population have been in decline for years but have yet to reach the endangered species list anywhere in the United States except for Hawaii. Many people kill bees that buzz around joyfully, simply because they are afraid of being stung by them; however, a vast majority of bees do not sting and the others do not care. This unfortunate commonality is not even one of the top causes of the worldwide epidemic of honey bees. Although bees are jokingly idolized on the internet in pictures and videos as a result of a popular children’s movie, their population decline is in fact quite serious. Honey bees and other pollinators like birds and insects ensure the pollination of flowering plants and crops all around the globe. Not only do honey bees pollinate plants that produce the foods that humans eat, but they also pollinate trees that produce clean oxygen for Earth. Without honey bees, the world as we know it could soon end, due to carbon dioxide pollution and lack of farmable foods. The population of honeybees and other important pollinator-bee species is dwindling due to a dilemma known to scientists as colony collapse disorder (CCD) because of the use of bee-killing pesticides, known as neonicotinoids, the decrease of flower meadows in the world, and the general increase