The Buzz on the Honey Bee Population
The beekeeping industry has been around since ancient times. Civilizations have come and gone, methods and techniques were changed and modernized, yet the industry remains one of the most prosperous industries around and even enjoys immense popularity in the modern age. But as of late, it faces one of its biggest challenges yet: the alarming rapid decline of the bee population.
The alarm bells first started ringing back in 2006 when researches and beekeepers noted the drop in the bee population. The phenomenon was dubbed as “colony collapse disorder” (CCD) by scientists. More alarming is the occurrence of the phenomenon in other parts of the world, including Europe.
Today, scientists are still unable to pinpoint a specific cause for the disappearance of millions of bees and bee hives all over the world. Some beekeepers cite the increased use of pesticide as the major cause while others blame climate change.
This problem does not only affect the beekeepers and the honey industry, but also the human food supply which relies on the bees as its driving force. Many people might not know this, but bees do more than just produce honey. The bees also act as pollinators for almost one third of the United States crops alone!
With scientists unable to provide for concrete causes of CCD, the available preventive measures are very minimal. Proposed remedies include separating the collapsing colonies from the healthy ones and the use of sugar syrup and Fumagilin and medication like Terramycin. Another recommended remedy is for farmers to utilize native bees instead of the non-US native honey bees. Scientists continue to develop products that can combat CCD.
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