The survival of bees, one would think, does have some intrinsic value in itself, and that their wonton destruction at the heedless behest of us humans is morally reprehensible. But to be a little more self-centered about it, we humans need bees to survive ourselves.
We need them almost as badly as we need oxygen. Because we need food, and without the bees pollinating the millions of acres of crops which go to feed us, millions of us are going to starve rather quickly.
The hunt for the cause of bee colony collapse began some years ago in the United States where bee colonies are collapsing and bees are dying at a terrifying rate. It is also happening here in Britain. Hypotheses about the cause of the collapse have ranged from genetic crops to global warming, from viral infections to the mass plantings of single-crops.
So far, the viral infection hypothesis has by far had the most evidence supporting it, while genetic crops has almost none. Now an organization called Buglife has carried out meticulous research suggesting that one of the main causes of bee colony collapse – perhaps the main cause at least here in Britain – is the widespread use of a pesticide called neonicotinoid. Neonicotinoid does indeed kill pests and it doesn’t kill bees directly. But bees which have been exposed to seed or soil treated with it are less able to cope. They forage less and produce fewer offspring, and eventually the whole colony collapses.
My first response is to feel frustrated and angry. But actually, the research is actually pretty hopeful. Before now, we really didn’t know what to do. I read an article the other day encouraging city-dwellers to put beehives onto their terraces and roofs, but that isn’t getting at the cause of the problem.
If the cause is the pesticides we’re using, then we can do something about it.
Let’s hope we do.
Interesting bits & pieces on colony collapse disorder in this BBC Radio 4 program which I found myself listening to by accident: The National Honey Show.
Chris
thinking makes it so
Comment by Chris Lawrence — November 8, 2009 @ 3:14 pm |
Thank you for pointing this out. The program is being rebroadcast tomorrow, so I’m planning on listening to it. Meanwhile, we, like others, are battling the arrival a variant species of what, as an American, I call lady bugs and my English husband calls lady birds. The old timers are bedding down outside under leaves and other such shelters for the winter, but the new arrivals seem to prefer central heating and are trying to get inside. So far I’ve only escorted a small number back outside, but some people are reportedly dealing with serious infestations. My suggestion is that we continue to call the old timers “lady birds,” and the intruders “lady bugs.” However, as an immigrant myself (and living inside the house as well), I perhaps should keep this suggestion to myself.
Comment by theotheri — November 8, 2009 @ 8:24 pm |