The disappearance of the honeybee – a warning sign?

Human beings are dependent on an extraordinarily complex system of life on this planet. A recent decline in honeybee populations is making us aware of just how much this insect does for us.

It is estimated that one third of our diet is currently dependent on pollination by the honeybee, including nuts, soya beans, onions, oranges, blueberries, cranberries, strawberries, melons, avocados, peaches, carrots, broccoli, sunflowers, apples, and even cattle feed like alfalfa and cotton for our clothes.

Yet over the last few years there has been a potentially calamitous decline in honeybee populations. No one quite knows what is causing it. Some blame inbreeding. Others have noticed a reaction to certain pesticides. There are clearly viruses involved and these viral infections may be made worse by a mite that has become widespread.

In some places honeybees are clearly being abused and this may be a primary cause for their decline. In California, for example, every February they ship bees in on trucks from all over the USA and even from Australia in order to service 60 million almond trees over 600,000 acres.

More details on the life and time of the honeybee can be found on our wiki page

Calling all beekeepers - we would value your experience. Please leave a comment here and also adjust the wiki page as you think it needs.

What concerns you about the life systems of the earth?

Take part in our Warning Signs task.

Suggested Task: Warning Signs

In the locutory I suggest we gather some of our concerns about living systems under a thread called ‘Warning Signs’.

Perhaps you see something in the news that concerns you about our impact on the planet and its other creatures?

Perhaps you notice something in your own area that is changing?

If so let us know. 
Don’t be put off contributing because you are not an expert.
We will find out more about these things as we go on. 

Your comments.

The documentary - Who killed the honey bee? was shown on BBC4 on Apr23rd at 9pm. It is a useful summary of this issue. You can watch it a on iplayer. 
Go to
http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/b00jzjys/Who_Killed_the_Honey_Bee/