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by Honey bees in twenty-two states are dying in the fields of an unknown disorder investigators have dubbed "colony collapse." The disorder is believed to be tied to the bees' immune systems. Apparently, they flee their hive, become disoriented, and die from the cold. Theories as to the cause range from issues with imported bee strains from Israel and Egypt, the cumulative effect of long-term exposure to pesticides, and changes brought about by genetically modified plant pollen, to viruses and fungus.
Bees play a critical role in the pollination of one-third of all crops. Jamie Ellis, an assistant entomology professor at the University of Florida's honeybee research lab, said, "The agriculture industry is built on the backs of honeybees." Not only are food crops such as almonds, apples, strawberries, and apricots dependent on the bee, but bees pollinate alfalfa and other crops fed to livestock, widening the potential disruption to the entire food supply.
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The beekeeping industry is in crisis looking for an answer to the cause of CCD. The current problem in a long string of industry challenges.
Instead of constantly having to duck the next blow, is there a way beekeepers get out of this awful cycle and build sustainable beekeeping? The simple answer is YES!
I have worked one on one with commercial beekeepers throughout North America, helping them find a new direction.
That of SUSTAINABLE chemical free beekeeping.
Mite-Away II (the product manufactured by the company I work for) uses formic acid, an organic acid found in nature, to kill varroa and tracheal mites. As well formic acid has anti-bacterial, anti-fungal, anti-viral, and anti-septic properties that help to cleanse the honeybee colony and improve the overall health of the colony. Formic acid leaves no harmful residues and and does not contaminate the colony in any way.
Every third bite of food you take is produced thanks to pollination by honeybees. Sustainable beekeeping is possible and beekeepers cannot only survive, but thrive.
As a company, we're trying to help find a solution to CCD with a new attitude and a new way of thinking.
If you need any further information please feel free to contact me at Steven(put an at sign here)Haylestrom.com I would be happy to answer any questions or check us out at www.MiteAway.com
Thanks,
Steven Haylestrom
NOD Apiary Products
We've seen the articles recently on how it could be cell phones, but I wonder about that, since this post seems to refute it, along with citing other references that seem to refute cell phones as a cause of CCD as well. It seems bee colony die-offs have been recurring for some time. Also, the fact cited by Jamie Ellis is only partially true; plants are pollinated in numerous ways by other creatures and even the wind.
Now another researcher indicates it could be a particular type of pesticides. It's possible, I won't discount it, but I wonder about that as well.
One of the common factors in CCD lately is the fact that the hives are left with honey and other bee foods that are not being consumed. If that is the case, then something is wrong with the food product being produced. This could be a pesticide residue, or something else.
Also, IIRC, the CCD began in the Southwest. If that is the case, then I wonder if it is contact between our European Honeybees and the areas where African Bees have taken up residence. Are the African bees carrying some parasite or bacteria that is harmless to them, but harmful to the bees we use?
One thing to remember--neither species is a native to this country; both were introduced.
A lot is being made of this Einstein quote: "If the bee disappeared off the surface of the globe, then man would only have four years left of life. No more bees, no more pollination, no more plants, no more animals, no more man." Apparently people are disputing whether Einstein said this or if it even means anything since he wasn't an expert on bees, and I'd like to examine what he's really saying here.
Einstein was a genius, especially at theorectical physics. He may be the most world reknowned scientist ever simply because people respected his intelligence. Examining the quote, one could speculate that Einstein isn't talking specifically about bees, but moreso about the fragility of humankind. Humans are notoriously unable to recognize the danger of their own situation. and furthermore, pay little attention to what the consequences of a given action will be. Einstein, in his wisdom, may have been suggesting that our place on this Earth is fairly precarious.
I think the bees were a rhetorical device to try and allow people to understand the uncertainty of life (particularly human life). Einstein had no way of knowning that bees would one day become threatened, although they have. Einstein certainly did not know scientifically that a bee extinction would lead to a human extinction. That is, Einstein wasn't being prophetic, and his quote does not tell the future.
The quote does, however, force us to analyze our environment. The bees are disappearing and we don't know why. We do know that it's probably our fault, be it pesticides, cell phone signals, or genetically modified crops. We do know that power lines cause erratic bee behaviors. Ultimately, the point of this rambling post is that we're going to have to start taking responsiblity for the damage we cause the environment on a daily basis. Our way of life is not sustainable and in order to survive we will have to change. It's about time we grow up about it, stop leaving these problems for the next generation to solve, and understand that the complex systems at work in nature are, at this point, beyond our understanding.
If all the bees die, our food supply will be crippled. I, for one, don't want to eat Soylent Green. I purpose we stop raping the planet to further a meaningless way of life.
-MBC
My name is Andrew Ian Murphy and as a hybrid alien, I want to assure you that this situation has nothing to do with genetic engineering...it no doubt is the first wave of a grand plan by the chinese to occupy AMerica...or maybe it was just an accident...well, maybe the accident part sounds a bit better. In the end though, there is plenty of food...just not enough of it, that's all. I for one know who, er, uh, I mean what I will be eating in the coming famine...Grass...yeah, that's the ticket.
Einstein's quote was probably prompted by comments by his life-long friend and author Immanuel Velikovsky who was himself considered one of the greatest alarmists of all time. I wouldn't be surprised to see the quote finally attributed to him.
Einstein's quote was probably prompted by comments by his life-long friend and author Immanuel Velikovsky who was himself considered one of the greatest alarmists of all time. I wouldn't be surprised to see the quote finally attributed to him.
April 24, 2007 entomologists on the maarec.org website bravely posted an article naming the pesticides known to be highly toxic to bees. These contain neonicotinoids. Neonicotinoids have been around since the 1990's but about 3 years ago the neonicotinoids were changed then introduced and distributed world wide. As use of them spread like in California, with its 50% loss of bees, so, too did loss of bees and all pollinators rise.
Neonicotinoids cause weakened immune system, loss of appetite, disoriented behavior, and I believe, loss of memory. Three years ago beekeeper noticed some bees show bizarre behavior and failure to eat. Die off wasn't too high. Then this November CCD worldwide began to skyrocket as use of the pesticides rose.
Now you know as well as I do no sane grower or gardener would deliberately kill off all the bees. Farmers and growers were ignorant.
The truth is out but it seems few have the courage to name the behemoth of biotechnology, Bayer Crop Science which distributes Admire, Poncho, Gaucho, and Provado and also another large company, Syngenta marketing Actara. I do not know for sure which company or companies are marketing all the products but please ask everyone to immediately stop the use of the pesticides named in the article that was written by Maryann Frasier of Penn State University.
http://maarec.cas.psu.edu/CCDPpt/RecGrowersUsingNeonics.pdf
Thank you
Snopes had investigated that fictional quote by Einstein. Here's the link. http://www.snopes.com/quotes/einstein/bees.asp. Unless you believe a French propaganda pamphlet printed in 1994, he never said anything about bees..why would he..he was a physicist.
Honeybees are not native to North America, so we got along okay without them before they were imported from Europe and Asia. They do play a key role in our agricultural economy, so there is reason to be concerned, but then again, they went through similar cycles in the 60's and '70's, before there were cell phones or "global warming." So let's put it in perspective...we do need to research this, but the flurry of misinformation and misquotes is amazing and more harmful than the truth.
Patrick Baczenas
There's some evidence suggesting that CCD may be a symptom of commercial farmers over-stressing their hives.
Although our honeybee was imported from Europe, crops, such as almonds, that have been planted with the expectation that massive pollination will be available from relocated beehives, cannot be adequately serviced by naturally occurring insects. I, for one, would like to see more research to determine if genetically modified crops, especially corn and the corn syrup being fed to bees, might be the principal culprit. More than likely, however, those wonderful people who gave us aspartame will win out in this battle, too.
Hm... which conspiracy are you proposing? That evil corporate agriculture is to blame for planting unsustainable crops, or that evil scientists are to blame for tinkering with genes?
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Albert Einstein quote on bees by Brandon :: NR9 :: on 16 March 2007
A quote concerning the extinction of the honey bee is listed in various places online as such:
Can anyone verify if he actually said this? My online search has turned up nothing concrete or official.
RE: Albert Einstein quote on bees by Anonymous :: NR0 :: on 16 March 2007
Four years would be long enough to produce a manmade pollenisation infrastructure, particularly if the fate of the entire human race was at stake.
RE: Albert Einstein quote on bees by Eye.Of.Sage :: NR6 :: on 16 March 2007
Is that the quotation?
If so, do you have a link or reference?
RE: Albert Einstein quote on bees by Anonymous :: NR0 :: on 03 May 2007
I'm still laughing at your ludicrous idea of manmade pollenization. Beekeepers are barely able to keep the bees at it now.
RE: Albert Einstein quote on bees by Anonymous :: NR0 :: on 02 April 2007
I don't know whether Einstein Said that But Holy Quran did 1400 year ago to this century.
There is a complete sura named honeybees in the holy Quran. God explains the importance of bees for humanlife in this Sura by saying:
67. And from the fruit of the date-palm and the vine, ye get out strong drink and wholesome food: behold, in this also is a sign for those who are wise.
68. And thy Lord taught the Bee to build its cells in hills, on trees, and in (men's) habitations;
69. Then to eat of all the produce (of the earth), and follow the ways of thy Lord made smooth: there issues from within their bodies a drink of varying colors, wherein is healing for men: verily in this is a Sign for those who give thought.
70. It is Allah Who creates you and takes your souls at death; and of you there are some who are sent back to a feeble age, so that they know nothing after having known (much): for Allah is All-Knowing, All-Powerful.
71. Allah has bestowed His gifts of sustenance more freely on some of you than on others: those more favored are not going to throw back their gifts to those whom their right hands possess, so as to be equal in that respect. Will they then deny the favors of Allah?
So it is obvious that something goes godly wrong. For a century, as humanbeings, we are living as opposers to god Unfortunately.
Global Warming
Extinction of species
Intensive pollution
Collapsing morality
Widespread Unhappiness and Depression
We didn't obey the rules of Creator, those rules would be our source of equality, health, and happiness.
I am sorry, My English is not so well but you will understand my purpose.
Yours respecfully.
RE: Albert Einstein quote on bees by scottb :: NR7 :: on 02 April 2007
Searching around a bit, the variant I found that seems most like Big Al, and seems (to me) to be most credibly attributed to him is "If the bee disappeared off the surface of the globe, then man would only have four years left of life. No more bees, no more pollination, no more plants, no more animals, no more man."
The farthest back I've traced it is to a 2005 article in Der Kritischer Agrarbericht by Walter Haefeker, who ends the article with his quote:
That matches the English version of the quote I gave. Haefeker doesn't give a source for the quote, though. Like everyone I've seen, he uses it as a throwaway to lend emotional support for his position (he very vocally opposed genetically modified crops). The footnote that looks like it might offer a source for the quote just says, "for more in the theme of this paper see the position paper of the German Beekeeper's Federation, in 'Genetic Agriculture and Professional Beekeeping', from December 2003", with a pointer of where to download it.
But, let's assume for a moment that he really did say something like this. Does it really affect the argument materially?
Einstein was a theoretical physicist. I've seen no evidence that he was a beekeeper or in any way an expert on the ecology of bees. I have to doubt he was more than a casual fan of the subject.
Granted he was a very smart man. And it's hard for a layman to argue with him - it seems obvious that a loss of the bee population would severely affect plant reproductive cycles, and that that would seriously hurt our ability to feed both ourselves and our livestock, and that can't be good.
But it takes much more of an expert than I am - and probably much more of an expert than Big Al was, at least on agriculture - to judge just how big that effect would be and whether mankind would survive it.
Now, I'm not at all arguing that Einstein was wrong, or that the bee problem isn't significant. I simply don't know the answers, and I think this kind of baseless "appeal to authority" is a cheap shot. Who cares what Einstein said about bees? Even Antonio Banderas has more claim to being an expert in that area - at least he plays one on TV.
RE: Albert Einstein quote on bees by Anonymous :: NR0 :: on 11 April 2007
I would like to know the true origin of this quote. If Einstein really said something like that, should be easily confirmed. It is crazy how one person can make up something and before you know it, it's all over the web. Information source is key.