Evening, Dr. Murphy. Folks, Digg is open for business.

S***. That’s very bad news.

Aloha, Doc! The Big Isle is one of the biggest exporters of queen bees in the world!

Bee keepers in my neck of the Ozarks reported a dramatic decrease in honey production this year. The bees seem to be okay and the decline may be related to an extremely wet year. Who knows?

It is just like “The Bee Movie” except the bees didn’t go on strike, they just died and no one knows why.

Very disturbing. This is a true threat to the human race if we don’t figure out what is going on.

Hi Kirk. I’ve been reading about this for a while but hadn’t noticed any change in the amount of bees where I live in Vermont. Until recently. There was a complete absence of bees where I live well into the summer. Normally there are hundreds in my yard. A summer day is usually filled with the drone of bees by the lilacs and theh apple trees. But this year, silence. I kept seeing just one bee at a time, until I started thinking it was the same bee.

Then I saw something really creepy in July: a sickly looking bumble bee, skinny and pale, crawling along the ground, unable to fly.

A few weeks later – maybe August? I began to see more bees going about their business, not quite the usual amount.

One of the things I’m trying to learn about is how to hand pollinate vegetables and fruit.

Good evening, toby – thanks for opening the Digg bar~

getplaning, totally agree. “Pollinator collapse” is here.

Aloha, CT! I wish there were a happier reason to forsee steep rises in demand for the Big Isle’s queens….

DO you have really small hands? /s

Ah, no. And I know nothing about it at this point, but I do keep an ear out for garden advice from some of the old times and they talk about hand pollinating if there are any worries about there not being enough bees around. You know, male flowers and female flowers and all that. I’d so much rather leave to the bees. Even if they weren’t so industrious I’d still want to see those little guys around.

Hi ES…the dropoff in Ozarks honey production seems really sad – and the news about your local honey supply is a bummer :(

I wish it were the only such report of dropoffs in bee populatons and/or honey production: unfortunately, honeybee dieoffs afflict bees in Euopre and North America.

We just got back into beekeeping this year after being out of it for a while. Here’s what I think – you have, on the one side, fewer and increasingly larger commercial beekeepers who are hauling their bees sometimes a couple of thousand miles a season, following the honey flows.

On the east coast, they start in Florida and make their way north. If something as simple as weather change can stress out the bees, it stands to reason that hauling them from place to place every couple of weeks is going to cause some major upsets. To get their bee colonies up and going in the early spring(that is, they’ve got to give the bees enough food energy to get them to draw out cells, feed the baby bees, etc.), they do NOT use honey. They used to use sugar water. Now, they use high fructose corn syrup because it is cheap. very cheap.

It is not the same as honey and it is not the same as sugar in water. So, you have stressed bees being fed a non natural food source. At the same time,there is also this problem with tracheal mites – beekeepers can do two things to control them: use mitacides or they can use special drone combs which seem to attract the mites. to use the drone comb method, you have to periodically take out the combs, put them in your freezer and kill the mites and the drones. Then you can put the combs back and the workers will clean it up and the process starts again.

But for commercial traveling beekeepers, this is impossible so they either use chemicals or ignore the situation. Tracheal mites weaken the bees. So, you have stressed bees, being fed un natural food, and being bled to death by mites.
and then there is colony collapse which they are not sure they understand either.
I can tell you that we fed the starter groups we got(nucs)with sugar water until they got the colony all drawn out. Then they were on their own in terms of going out into the field. We took off 70 pounds from the two colonies and left the rest of the honey for the workers for the winter.

We had no issues this year and I am sure we won’t have any problems in the spring either. We had a very good honey flow in the fall from the bamboo and golden rod, so there is still plenty of food for them to gather.
On the other hand, we don’t live in an area being heavily commercially farmed, either, so there is no spraying for them to deal with.

I believe I read that wild bees are not as affected by this die off as commercially raised bees. Kirk, do you know if this is true?

Oh, it’s bad. I didn’t see a single wild honey bee after the spring japonica bloom this year. And I live far from any significant threats considered… such as cell phone towers or crop chemicals etc.

Wow…getting gardening lessons from old-timers is a treat: have fun!

Don’t mistake this as denying the degradation of our ecosystem, because it’s not. But those honeybees are not native and are not the most efficient pollinators in most areas. I have substantial cutting gardens and a large organic food garden here in SE Pa. The local bees(bumble, sweat) do a fine job when the honeybees aren’t around. The European bees are essential to agribusiness more than to any eco-system.

Okay. It’s you. What did you do to make the bees go away? :)

Maybe I have to many flowers? *g*

Very true – even with our keeping bees this year(and a colony in full force has about 40,000 workers out there buzzing around), we probably saw three times as many native bees out there than the ones from our colonies.

Kirk What?? I have never seen you Post such a short post?? But the subject is vital to the well being of the plant life and conversely to the survival to many many parts of our ecology. I have been reading about the die offs and I have seen many more dead and distressed bees in our own back yard. I need the bees for my summer vegetable crops!! Here is an article from Science Daily on the Bee deaths that seems to be linked to pathogens and not just pollution!

How will this effect “Joe the Plumber” ?

Out here in CA the price of real maple syrup (like for pancakes,etc.) has gone sky high. A 12 oz. bottle at the cheapest is $6.89; same thing at Walmart is $9.78(though I only do comparison shopping to show that Walmart basically sucks people in with ‘price leaders’ and then is not really that much less expensive than other outlets).
Most places are charging at least $12 for such a bottle of real maple syrup; even ‘Log Cabin’ syrup pricing has gone up significantly.

Instinct tells me the stress of modern pollinating circuits may be part of the problem. Moving from oranges to almonds to clover etc…might contribute to a type of bee AIDS that makes them receptive to some killer.

Intimidating? You’re just too awesome?

Germ Plasm is being destroted with it the refurbishing dna
1 Pesticides, herbicides and fungicides kill bees and may destry their reproductive capacity
2African killer bees are moving into our southern states where a lot of ac is done.
Eat organically abd help the bees come back.
1 Billion people are starving on the planet along with more species. Water resources are drying up. The equatorial weather belt is moving away from the equator and billions of people and spprcies are without food and water.

How will this effect “Joe the Plumber” ?

Does he have a license to keep bees?

WASHINGTON – The federal government on Friday determined that a species of beluga whale native to an inlet off Anchorage, Alaska, is endangered and will require additional protection to survive.

The finding could even have presidential implications: Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin, Sen. John McCain’s running mate, had questioned scientific evidence that the population was declining.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/27238207/

No, but he knows someone who does, and he’s been thinkin’ about buying a bee business, except he’s afraid his taxes will go up.

(ES – you did watch BO’s speech last night, right?)

[just catching up here…]

MsAnnaNOLA, this is scary: I’d like a bee strike much better (reading the teeny-tiny little signs would be a challenge, though).

Toby, thanks! for sharing your deep expereince and knowledge – and thanks to you and all the bee-lovers here on the Lake for helping our friends.

moondancer, that’s good news about the local pollinators. Agree with your observation re European bees and agribiz. I think I also recall reading that US native insect pollinator populations are declining (Eureka Spring’s experience writ large), though not as rapidly as are those of European honeybees in commercial hives.

moondancer, if you or anyone here have more info to share about native pollinators (and/or changes in their populations), I’d love to learn more.

I have a colony of wild bees that has made a home in a tree in my yard for the past three years. They do not seem to have been affected by whatever. I really appreciate them.

I agree completely. We are not having problems here and we have talked to big commercial guys locally who keep their colonies in one place all the time..they are not having the same issues and they are not seeing colony collapse. They also do not feel HFCS. So, I think this hauling the colonies around is a big contributor.

Good evening Kirk, and thank you for your fine work.

I would like to inject a ray of hope, along with your critically important words of caution and even alarm.

We live out in the ‘burbs. Not countryfied enough that pesticides are spread hither & yon with only concerns for some crop’s yield, and not close enough to “civilization” that we get sprayed regularly for mosquitoes.

We’ve gardened rather extensively over the years, mostly veggies, but without using pesticides at all for many years. During the past 3 – 5 years, we’ve made a concerted effort to grow more than our own consumables, but turn much of our lawn back into a place for plants that attract pollinators, and that are basically left alone to flower and go to seed.

The local birds love the idea. Phoebes and Peewees, Cedar Waxwings and Bluebirds nest here every year. 2 species of wrens. warblers, jays etc. etc. etc. ManyThe butterflies and moths of all manner seem to have sprung out of nowhere, and delight us with their colors and just their sheer presence, daily. Bats migrate to us every summer and ply their trade along our hedgerow and around the lawn every summer evening.

And, lo and behold, our bounty of everything from goldenrod and beebalm to catnip and milkweeds, are covered with hoards of pollinators, including mostly honey bees, but many kinds of bumble bees, wasps, hummingbird moths, milkweed tiger moths, imperial moths, monarchs and mourning cloaks, viceroy and blues and sulphurs and fritillaries and too many other species of butterflies to mention.

So… at least in our area, they’re out there, in spite of all the hazards. Maybe, if others can plant for the critters, they might have a chance to avoid extinction at the hand of man’s pesticides and whatever else is dampening their chances for survival.

Of course, the problem of “pollinator collapse” is real. But maybe this is a small way suburbanites and fringe-ies like us, can help the beneficial insects hold on while the scientists try to find out what’s destroying so many of them in such alarming numbers.

Kirk you been enjoying Lord Nelson??

OK, boys and girls, I’m done for the night. Be kind to one another.

Peace to you, Toby. Bee good.

Sorry … My cynical side is showing.

Adie I love the idea of your yard.

A cure has been found:
http://www.infoisrael.net/cgi-…../280920081

Hello,

This problem is not new, even if you just “discovered” it.

Hive Scourge? Virus linked to recent honeybee die-off

That story I linked is a year old. The CCD referenced in the story from the UK is Colony Collapse Disorder, and is the greatest single threat to bee colonies today.

There are many ecological catastrophes looming over us. Certainly, the disappearance of bee colonies is significant. But, the bees disappearing are domestic, commercially hived bees. Wild bees are another story, this one from 2004:

Can Wild Bees Take Sting From Honeybee Decline?

Fact-free denunciations of “ecocide” don’t advance us toward a general understanding of the importance of taking care of our surroundings. Let’s have some science in our discussions of science.

Thanks.

mp

I was unaware that bees were transported from place to place until the die off was first reported. I would think it would be cheaper for the big ag people to pay local folks to keep bees for pollination. The beekeepers in turn could provide the local community with honey at some level.

julia upstairs

Here are a couple of articles to this issue that may be of interest…

From mcclatchydc.com around Aug. 26, 2008…

Germans suspect Bayer pesticide in beehive collapse
By Sabine Vollmer | Raleigh News & Observer
Bayer CropScience is facing scrutiny because of the effect one of its best-selling pesticides has had on honeybees.

A German prosecutor is investigating Werner Wenning, Bayer’s chairman, and Friedrich Berschauer, the head of Bayer CropScience, after critics alleged that they knowingly polluted the environment.

The investigation was triggered by an Aug. 13 complaint filed by German beekeepers and consumer protection advocates, a Coalition against Bayer Dangers spokesman, Philipp Mimkes, said Monday.

The complaint is part of efforts by groups on both sides of the Atlantic to determine how much Bayer CropScience knows about the part that clothianidin may have played in the death of millions of honeybees.

Bayer CropScience, which has its U.S. headquarters in North Carolina’s Research Triangle Park, said field studies have shown that bees’ exposure to the pesticide is minimal or nonexistent if the chemical is used properly.

Clothianidin and related pesticides generated about $1 billion of Bayer CropScience’s $8.6 billion in global sales last year. The coalition is demanding that the company withdraw all of the pesticides.

“We’re suspecting that Bayer submitted flawed studies to play down the risks of pesticide residues in treated plants,” said Harro Schultze, the coalition’s attorney.

“Bayer’s … management has to be called to account, since the risks … have now been known for more than 10 years.”

Under German law, a criminal investigation could lead to a search of Bayer offices, Mimkes said.

On this side of the Atlantic, the Natural Resources Defense Council is pressing for research information on clothianidin.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency approved the pesticide in 2003 under the condition that Bayer submit additional data. A lawsuit, which the environmental group filed Aug. 19 in federal court in Washington, accuses the EPA of hiding the honeybee data.

The group thinks the data might show what role chlothianidine played in the loss of millions of U.S. honeybee colonies.

Researchers have been puzzled by what is causing the bees to disappear at what is considered an alarming rate.

The phenomenon, known as colony collapse disorder, threatens a $15 billion portion of the U.S. food supply.

And from tradingmarkets.com around Sept. 19, 2008…

BRIEF: Italy is latest to ban sale of Bayer pesticide
Fri. September 19, 2008; Posted: 09:38 AM

Sep. 19–Pesticides made by Bayer CropScience have been banned in a third European country after the chemicals were linked to bee deaths.

Italy this week followed Germany and Slovenia in banning sales of chemicals used to coat crop seeds, including clothianidin and imidecloprid, according to a statement by the Italian health ministry and the German consumer watchdog group, Coalition Against Bayer Dangers. Both pesticides are made and sold by Bayer CropScience, a German company that has its U.S. headquarters in Research Triangle Park.
Beekeepers in the three countries blame the pesticides for killing large numbers of honeybees. Clothianidin and related pesticides generated about $1 billion of Bayer CropScience’s $8.6 billion in global sales last year.

Thanks for the post, Kirk. Wish I had the space to keep a hive.

Lids are beginning to check themselves for light leaks so colour me gone.

Be good to yourselves, and all other living things.

Namaste

People laugh at us, until they stand a moment or 2 and watch the action.

Our own mini-animal-planet. heh.

Oh, important. To keep the neighbors at bay, We’ve reintroduced a number of beautiful native wildflowers here and there, and we DO actually mow a modest, rather gracefully significant area of lawn, and keep that part neatly trimmed, but the lawn’s deliberately multi-species in nature, so no herbicides are needed, etc. And when mowing, it’s not unusual for me to have to stop and let a praying mantis amble by on her way to a mid-afternoon snack, deferring to her superiority in our scheme. ;->

I suspect GMO genetically modified crops may have some immunw weakening affests to the bee’s metabolism. Diet is a precursor to health or illness.And the lack of variety of foods for the bees as thousands of acres in the same crop. Follow the commercial harvest contractors. Corn, wheat and other crops are grown so bees get one type of pollen.

I suspect that GMO crops are the biggest factor in the colony collapse.

The video “The World According to Monsanto” disappears from websites rapidly. Tonight, it is still available at celsias. For those who have dial up, there are some good articles. The “Open Letter to Hillary Clinton” is interesting. It was her and her Rose Law Firm that unleashed this disaster to the world.

The majority of Morgellons Disease victims are in the US-the first country to release GM crops and the top producer ever since.

Organic farmers do not in general lose their bees. I doubt it is because they don’t move their bees…likely it is because they don’t grow GM crops.

The “Open Letter to Hillary Clinton” is interesting. It was her and her Rose Law Firm that unleashed this disaster to the world.

Link, please.

I agree with you…slow typist here so I had not seen your comment.

Also, chemtrails…for those of you who don’t know what these are..orbwar has very good pictures. Look up and see what governments around the world are doing. The only government that has admitted to these chemtrails is Germany.

Groan…the worst link maker here…I have avoided trying for awhile!
That is why I always give info. so people can just google…

Here goes….if it does not work…google celsias and the letter is on the list right below the video.

http://www.celsias.com/

Introduced species have the power to alter native ecosystems in profound and devastating ways. Dutch elm disease changed America’s and Britain’s “treescape”. A century ago, chestnut blight killed millions of trees and cahnged the look of towns throughout eastern America.

New Scientist reports

The mysterious disappearance of droves of honeybees in the US may be down to an imported virus, suggests a new study.

Beekeepers have witnessed a dramatic drop in their bee numbers since autumn 2006, though some saw signs as far back as 2004. Now a genetic analysis of more than 50 honeybee colonies suggests that a virus called Israeli acute paralysis virus (IAPV) might be behind this bizarre phenomenon.

Experts say they have “circumstantial evidence” linking the arrival of honeybee imports from Australia with the emergence of IAPV in the States. First identified in Israel in 2004, IAPV causes bees to develop shivering wings and eventually become paralysed, leading to death just outside the hive.

Crap, what a nasty little virus. What does it have to do with killing America’s bees?

Among all the pathogens they identified, only IAPV was tightly linked to colony collapse – the virus appeared in all of the 30 colonies devastated by CCD, but only one of the apparently healthy colonies.

Imported bees

Because the US started allowing bee imports from Australia in 2004 – around the time that bees started dying in the states – the scientists also tested the genes of apparently healthy bees imported from Australia as well. These tests identified the presence of IAPV in the Australian sample, hinting that the imports might be to blame.

As New Scientist points out, IAPV can’t be ID’d as the certain cause of colony collapse disorder.

If this particular infectious agent (as cited in the comments) does prove to be the cause of CCD, on the broadest level what we see is the disruption and loss of the ecology surrounding the (introduced) European honeybee.

The destruction of an ecological niche snuffs out the species so adpated to the conditions the niche affords as to be unable to live elsewhere.

Which is a fancy way of saying that should North Americans see IAPV wipe out (introduced) honeybees, we’ll also see species and ecosystems adapted to depend on honeybees at risk of disappearing.

Knocking out ecosystems sure meets my definition of ecocide, but perhaps that’s just me….

FAIL!

try no. 2….

http://www.celsias.com/2008/04…..-monsanto/

It worked..will wonders never cease?

ecocide= genocide by starvation of humans….

Paul Bremmer’s Directive Order 51 unleashed Monsanto and its GMO in Iraq.

http://www.alternet.org/waroniraq/62273/

I remember some “conservatives” a couple of years ago mocking liberals and environmentalists for being concerned about this, along the lines of
‘now they are worrying about bees dying, ha ha ha ha ha’. It’s a spiritual sickness to be so detached from one’s connection with the earth. So ignorant, arrogant, and stupid.

I read an artcile in some science mag suggesting that pollution is affecting the scent of flowers–stiffling the flow, condensing it to a smaller area so that it is more diffcult for bees and other pollinators to pick up the odors and do their business…such a tragedy our lovely bees and the scented world…

The bees where I grew up in the Midwest (pretty close to Real America) died 15 years ago or so with the bee parasite. In CA (Unreal America) where I am now, I still see bees. But we need laws to protect them. Otherwise, the economic incentive is to kill them (as my landlord did, thrice) if they build a hive in a place that might bother people.

We are due, its been 65million years. But then…maybe the world is only 6000 years old? Its so hard to tell.

Hope we can pull out of this, if it goes on the bad side (Ex negative feedback loop) we could even have a choice of our destruction – destroy the plant by taking a dump on it, or nuke eachother on the way down…maybe a bit of both.

My niece has decided to forgo being a livestock vet to become a bee keeper (wifery?).

Pets are great, but for God sake many pets eat better than living (and certainly dying) people.

It pays to use science before its to late. See if people take things seriously and investigate they can actually figure things out.

Scientists are motivated by “how knows?” as opposed to many who just shrug.

Or the vast travel increases their exposure to other factor beyond stress (infection), in this case of course the stress is not going to help fighting off what they are exposed to.

I live in western Kentucky, which produces (used to produce) lots of honey. I listened to a locally produced story about the problem on NPR in which the beekeepers described how honey bees are dying off. Something has affected their memory and/or navigational system because they have lost their ability to find their way back to their hives. They finally collapse due to physical exhaustion and fall to the ground where they expire or become food for predators. Meanwhile, the hives turn into empty husks with just the queen and a few worker bees who eventually starve to death. It’s really sad and no one has identified the cause, let alone a cure. There is a real possibility that honey bees may become extinct, unless someone figures out a solution soon.