Why are bees in trouble?
So what are the reasons that bees populations are declining so significantly? Here are the main reasons:
Pesticides - Neonicotinoids (neonics) are a systematic insecticide used in agriculture. Neonics resemble nicotine and are used to control pests. The chemicals are absorbed by plants. Residue is left behind and remains on pollen and nectar that bees collect. It negatively affects the nervous systems of bees. This results in the bees dying from infections very easily. To learn more, please watch this video:
Pesticides - Neonicotinoids (neonics) are a systematic insecticide used in agriculture. Neonics resemble nicotine and are used to control pests. The chemicals are absorbed by plants. Residue is left behind and remains on pollen and nectar that bees collect. It negatively affects the nervous systems of bees. This results in the bees dying from infections very easily. To learn more, please watch this video:
Source: www.savehoneybees.info
Climate Change - For some reason, bees have not been adjusting to drastic changes in temperature. This results in many dying because the environmental stresses lead to increased infections and death. According to Leah Duran these are the effects of climate change on bees:
1. Habitat loss
Climate change is causing habitat loss as bees fail to migrate to cooler areas and establish new hives. A recent study on bumblebee migrations found that bee territories have shrunk by nearly 200 miles in North America and Europe.
2. Shifting temperatures
As average monthly temperatures rise, flowers bloom earlier in the spring, creating a potential mismatch in seasonal timing between when flowers produce pollen and when bees are ready to feed on that pollen. Even a small mismatch of three to six days could negatively affect bees’ health, making them less likely to reproduce and less resistant to predators and parasites.
3. Disease
Honeybees are susceptible to parasites such as Varroa mites and the gut parasite Nosema ceranae, and environmental stresses may increase infections. Scientists first discovered the Nosema ceranae in the early 1990s in Asian honeybees. It has since spread to Europe and the U.S., causing shorter lifespans and colony collapse. A recent study found that lower temperatures were associated with lower prevalence of the parasite, indicating that higher temperatures as a result of climate change could result in more bees infected with Nosema ceranae. (blog.conservation.org/2017/08/the-buzz-on-climate-change-its-bad-for-bees/)
Varroa Mites - The Varroa Mite parasite was introduced by accident. It latches on to bees and feeds off their blood, killing them and destroying colonies.
Poor Nutrition - You may ask, how are bees not getting good enough nutrition? Well, it's because of us! The constant building and cutting down of trees is essentially destroying their habitat.
These are all huge factors that add up, and are causing the bee population to decline significantly. So How Can We Help?
Climate Change - For some reason, bees have not been adjusting to drastic changes in temperature. This results in many dying because the environmental stresses lead to increased infections and death. According to Leah Duran these are the effects of climate change on bees:
1. Habitat loss
Climate change is causing habitat loss as bees fail to migrate to cooler areas and establish new hives. A recent study on bumblebee migrations found that bee territories have shrunk by nearly 200 miles in North America and Europe.
2. Shifting temperatures
As average monthly temperatures rise, flowers bloom earlier in the spring, creating a potential mismatch in seasonal timing between when flowers produce pollen and when bees are ready to feed on that pollen. Even a small mismatch of three to six days could negatively affect bees’ health, making them less likely to reproduce and less resistant to predators and parasites.
3. Disease
Honeybees are susceptible to parasites such as Varroa mites and the gut parasite Nosema ceranae, and environmental stresses may increase infections. Scientists first discovered the Nosema ceranae in the early 1990s in Asian honeybees. It has since spread to Europe and the U.S., causing shorter lifespans and colony collapse. A recent study found that lower temperatures were associated with lower prevalence of the parasite, indicating that higher temperatures as a result of climate change could result in more bees infected with Nosema ceranae. (blog.conservation.org/2017/08/the-buzz-on-climate-change-its-bad-for-bees/)
Varroa Mites - The Varroa Mite parasite was introduced by accident. It latches on to bees and feeds off their blood, killing them and destroying colonies.
Poor Nutrition - You may ask, how are bees not getting good enough nutrition? Well, it's because of us! The constant building and cutting down of trees is essentially destroying their habitat.
These are all huge factors that add up, and are causing the bee population to decline significantly. So How Can We Help?