Loss of bees is causing a buzz

Honeybees do a lot more than make delicious honey – they are responsible for pollinating crops for about a third of the food eaten in the US. Beekeepers truck entire colonies around the country to be there at the exact time crops need, but this year when they checked on the hives before readying for the almond crop, they received a nasty surprise. According to a recent census, almost 60 percent of the bees had died.

Researchers are trying to determine what is responsible for this die-off, but so far have been coming up short. The usual suspects such as parasites, pathogens, viruses, pesticides, and poor nutrition are absent or not substantially different in colonies that experienced heavy losses versus those that did not. Researchers are busy conducting new surveys and assessments in an effort to find the cause.

While honeybees have been in decline for several years, the recent loss surpasses historical trends. If this pace of collapse continues, it will greatly impact crops like peppers, almonds, apples, and melons plus many more. Large scale agriculture relies heavily on the trucked colonies of bees and growers would have to scramble to find alternate methods of pollination or would face significant yield reductions. Let’s hope scientists can figure out the cause and find a solution that can be quickly implemented.