European honey bees aren't even native to North America. We have native pollinators here who aren't facing colony collapse. We have native bees (bumblebees, leafcutter bees, sweat bees, carpenter bees, and mining bees), wasps, flies, butterflies, etc.
it sucks the European honey bees are dying off but our pollination should be fine with native species. I rarely see an actual honey bee in my huge garden.
I've seen some argue the "mystery" of colony collapse is actually that the poor bees are being exposed to Monsanto's GMO insecticide corn.
I personally don't believe it. Just like global warming they've been saying this crap for decades now, and yet SOMEHOW honey production INCREASES every year in the US. Bees are kind of odd. Even if you "own" a hive or multiple hives you can't really control where they go or what they go after in terms of pollen. And often they'll have a radius of 5-10 miles (sometimes more, up to 50 miles in some cases) of where they'll go looking for plants. So more often than not "wild" honey bees have to compete with "domesticated" honey bees for the same plants. So while "wild" populations may be down, "domesticated" populations are perpetually increasing. To be honest, even that may or may not be true, because as I said, bees wander for MILES around their hive to look for plants, so it's impossible to distinguish between "wild" bees and "domesticated" bees. But overall, honey bee populations are actually UP compared to most other bee populations.
But beyond that like u/UnderCoverTrumper pointed out, honey bees aren't even really native to the US and we have dozens of other pollinators that're native to North America. Likewise, even the "wild bees" aren't all dying out. It's mainly just specific subspecies of bumble bees, but there's over 250 types of bumble bees and only like 5-10 are having problems.
The whole argument is thrown out of whack by alarmism.
Don't panic until there is something to panic about!
Almost all these panic generating projections come from poor use of unsuitable computer models. All computer models are wrong, the secret is to find a model that proves the lie that you want to push.
No honey production doesn't increase. Every year my husband buys bees for about 5 hives. Every year we lose at least 4, if not all five hives. So, please tell me how our "domesticated" honey bee population is increasing. And no, they are not flying off. I've cleaned thousands of dead bees out of the hives so they are not flying off for better hunting grounds.
Oh and most of the honey you buy in the supermarket is NOT honey.
Its the pesticides, the white and yellow butterflies are almost extinct. In my youth you could see them everywhere, looking across a meadow you could see hundreds of them. Last summer I could see none. Monsanto pesticides are killing the pollinators. To kill pests it also kills the desired insects. SAD but chemical companies have got to make profit. Fuck the food web.
Your personal experience does not speak for the experience of every bee keeper in North America. Ever consider it's your technique or area? A simple google search will tell you that honey production is increasing. Your logic is like someone saying the trucking industry is dying because their specific trucking company has had 9 out 10 of their trucks crash every year because of incompetent drivers.
And yes, supermarket honey more often than not IS honey. It's just processed honey. Which admittedly is much worse than non processed honey. But nearly every supermarket on planet earth will sell both processed and unprocessed honey in the exact same aisle so you just have read.
As for dead bees, the fact you're trying to use that as evidence tells me you don't know what you're doing as a bee keeper. That is COMMON. Drone bees only have a life span of about 20-30 days AT MAXIMUM and they reproduce like few other creatures on planet earth. So having thousands of dead bees inside the hive is EXTREMELY common. Especially if you don't clean them frequently and only do it once every so often
I'm sorry. I didn't realize you were the see-all, know-all and tell-all of bee wisdom and your vast experience and knowledge speaks for every beekeeper in America.
Your misinformation and ignorance are based on your what? Your infinite knowledge of all things bees? Stop peddling bullshit and pretending that you know more than people who have been doing this for decades.
Nice ad hominem argument. Notice how you didn’t refute a single point I made. Especially how a simple google search proves I’m correct. Devolving into name calling immediately after being told something that counteracts your point of view doesn’t help your case much.
Besides not once did I claim to be an “all knowing bee seer”. I, like everyone else on planet earth, just spent 10 minutes researching it on google to come to my conclusion.
If anything, you’re the one trying to pretend to be all knowing. Basing an entire continent spanning industry, with the single most varied set of geography and climates on planet earth, on your single localized experience.
I suppose the orange industry is also dying off because Florida is growing slightly fewer oranges while California is growing more than ever as well? Just because something is one way in one area, doesn’t mean it’s that way EVERYWHERE in the country. It may very well be as you say where you live, I don’t doubt your word of where you live. But to claim it’s a nation wide phenomenon when all the evidence and fats is contrary to the fact is simply wrong
Have been bee keepers for 6 years here in SW WA state. We are doing great and have wonderful honey to partake of. We do not even treat our hives for Varoa mites. They manage on their own.
haven't we seen this before? Bee die-off scare was like 10 years ago - almost wiped out in China if I recall - but they rebounded tremendously after that. Could be same here - nature does have its cycles after all.
Honey bee colonies in the United States are projected to face severe losses, with up to 70% of colonies expected to be lost in 2025
[3]. This significant increase from the typical 40-50% annual losses over the past decade is attributed to a combination of nutrition deficiencies, mite infestations, viral diseases, and possible pesticide exposure
[3].
Key Points:
Projected Losses: Entomologists at Washington State University predict that honey bee colony losses could reach between 60% and 70% in 2025.
Causes: The primary factors contributing to these losses include nutrition deficiencies, mite infestations, viral diseases, and pesticide exposure
[3].
Impact on Agriculture: Honey bees are crucial for pollinating about 35% of the world's food crops, including fruits, vegetables, nuts, and other plants
[3].
Economic Consequences: The honey bee industry had a production value of nearly $350 million in 2023, and the current losses could lead to increased costs for farmers and potential bankruptcies among beekeepers
[3].
Almond Industry: California's almond production, which relies heavily on honey bee pollination, is particularly at risk. Growers are desperate for any available bee colonies, a situation reminiscent of the early days of colony collapse disorder around 2008
[3].
Additional Details:
Historical Context: Until about two decades ago, typical colony losses were around 10-20% during winter months. The emergence of colony collapse disorder has since increased these losses significantly[3].
Research Efforts: Scientists at Washington State University and Cornell University are working on methods to control varroa mites, improve bee nutrition, and understand the interactions of multiple stressors affecting bee health
[3].
Current Challenges: Beekeepers are under immense pressure to maintain colony numbers to meet pollination demands, and many are struggling to absorb the financial losses
[3].
Conclusion:
The projected 70% loss of honey bee colonies in 2025 is a critical issue with significant implications for agriculture and the economy. Ongoing research and management practices are essential to mitigate these losses and ensure the sustainability of pollinator-dependent crops.
European honey bees aren't even native to North America. We have native pollinators here who aren't facing colony collapse. We have native bees (bumblebees, leafcutter bees, sweat bees, carpenter bees, and mining bees), wasps, flies, butterflies, etc.
it sucks the European honey bees are dying off but our pollination should be fine with native species. I rarely see an actual honey bee in my huge garden.
I've seen some argue the "mystery" of colony collapse is actually that the poor bees are being exposed to Monsanto's GMO insecticide corn.
Can Elon create some artificial bees?
The existence of such perfect creatures is proof that our world was created by God.
Honey bees aren't the only pollinator. They are not even the best pollinators.
Right you are mason bees are terrific Pollinators!😁
I personally don't believe it. Just like global warming they've been saying this crap for decades now, and yet SOMEHOW honey production INCREASES every year in the US. Bees are kind of odd. Even if you "own" a hive or multiple hives you can't really control where they go or what they go after in terms of pollen. And often they'll have a radius of 5-10 miles (sometimes more, up to 50 miles in some cases) of where they'll go looking for plants. So more often than not "wild" honey bees have to compete with "domesticated" honey bees for the same plants. So while "wild" populations may be down, "domesticated" populations are perpetually increasing. To be honest, even that may or may not be true, because as I said, bees wander for MILES around their hive to look for plants, so it's impossible to distinguish between "wild" bees and "domesticated" bees. But overall, honey bee populations are actually UP compared to most other bee populations.
But beyond that like u/UnderCoverTrumper pointed out, honey bees aren't even really native to the US and we have dozens of other pollinators that're native to North America. Likewise, even the "wild bees" aren't all dying out. It's mainly just specific subspecies of bumble bees, but there's over 250 types of bumble bees and only like 5-10 are having problems.
The whole argument is thrown out of whack by alarmism.
Don't panic until there is something to panic about!
Almost all these panic generating projections come from poor use of unsuitable computer models. All computer models are wrong, the secret is to find a model that proves the lie that you want to push.
No honey production doesn't increase. Every year my husband buys bees for about 5 hives. Every year we lose at least 4, if not all five hives. So, please tell me how our "domesticated" honey bee population is increasing. And no, they are not flying off. I've cleaned thousands of dead bees out of the hives so they are not flying off for better hunting grounds.
Oh and most of the honey you buy in the supermarket is NOT honey.
Its the pesticides, the white and yellow butterflies are almost extinct. In my youth you could see them everywhere, looking across a meadow you could see hundreds of them. Last summer I could see none. Monsanto pesticides are killing the pollinators. To kill pests it also kills the desired insects. SAD but chemical companies have got to make profit. Fuck the food web.
Your personal experience does not speak for the experience of every bee keeper in North America. Ever consider it's your technique or area? A simple google search will tell you that honey production is increasing. Your logic is like someone saying the trucking industry is dying because their specific trucking company has had 9 out 10 of their trucks crash every year because of incompetent drivers.
And yes, supermarket honey more often than not IS honey. It's just processed honey. Which admittedly is much worse than non processed honey. But nearly every supermarket on planet earth will sell both processed and unprocessed honey in the exact same aisle so you just have read.
As for dead bees, the fact you're trying to use that as evidence tells me you don't know what you're doing as a bee keeper. That is COMMON. Drone bees only have a life span of about 20-30 days AT MAXIMUM and they reproduce like few other creatures on planet earth. So having thousands of dead bees inside the hive is EXTREMELY common. Especially if you don't clean them frequently and only do it once every so often
I'm sorry. I didn't realize you were the see-all, know-all and tell-all of bee wisdom and your vast experience and knowledge speaks for every beekeeper in America.
Your misinformation and ignorance are based on your what? Your infinite knowledge of all things bees? Stop peddling bullshit and pretending that you know more than people who have been doing this for decades.
Nice ad hominem argument. Notice how you didn’t refute a single point I made. Especially how a simple google search proves I’m correct. Devolving into name calling immediately after being told something that counteracts your point of view doesn’t help your case much.
Besides not once did I claim to be an “all knowing bee seer”. I, like everyone else on planet earth, just spent 10 minutes researching it on google to come to my conclusion.
If anything, you’re the one trying to pretend to be all knowing. Basing an entire continent spanning industry, with the single most varied set of geography and climates on planet earth, on your single localized experience.
I suppose the orange industry is also dying off because Florida is growing slightly fewer oranges while California is growing more than ever as well? Just because something is one way in one area, doesn’t mean it’s that way EVERYWHERE in the country. It may very well be as you say where you live, I don’t doubt your word of where you live. But to claim it’s a nation wide phenomenon when all the evidence and fats is contrary to the fact is simply wrong
Do your part and buy some Mason Bee homes.
Consider adding banker plants to your property. Varieties that attract a whole spread of beneficial insects from pollinators to natural predators
Ban glyphosate.
Amen!
Have been bee keepers for 6 years here in SW WA state. We are doing great and have wonderful honey to partake of. We do not even treat our hives for Varoa mites. They manage on their own.
haven't we seen this before? Bee die-off scare was like 10 years ago - almost wiped out in China if I recall - but they rebounded tremendously after that. Could be same here - nature does have its cycles after all.
Panic and fear porn. Satanists use this shit to mess with and lower your aura or whatever.
Some history. I suggest a bottle of whisky instead of panic:
https://wattsupwiththat.com/2016/02/17/bee-pocaclypse-called-off-bees-doing-ok-global-warming-was-never-a-cause/
https://wattsupwiththat.com/2020/07/13/ban-neonics-hurt-farmers-and-bees/
https://wattsupwiththat.com/2021/04/13/saving-pollinators-from-an-imaginary-bee-pocalypse/
Honey Bee Die Off
Honey bee colonies in the United States are projected to face severe losses, with up to 70% of colonies expected to be lost in 2025 [3]. This significant increase from the typical 40-50% annual losses over the past decade is attributed to a combination of nutrition deficiencies, mite infestations, viral diseases, and possible pesticide exposure [3].
Key Points: Projected Losses: Entomologists at Washington State University predict that honey bee colony losses could reach between 60% and 70% in 2025. Causes: The primary factors contributing to these losses include nutrition deficiencies, mite infestations, viral diseases, and pesticide exposure [3]. Impact on Agriculture: Honey bees are crucial for pollinating about 35% of the world's food crops, including fruits, vegetables, nuts, and other plants [3]. Economic Consequences: The honey bee industry had a production value of nearly $350 million in 2023, and the current losses could lead to increased costs for farmers and potential bankruptcies among beekeepers [3]. Almond Industry: California's almond production, which relies heavily on honey bee pollination, is particularly at risk. Growers are desperate for any available bee colonies, a situation reminiscent of the early days of colony collapse disorder around 2008 [3]. Additional Details: Historical Context: Until about two decades ago, typical colony losses were around 10-20% during winter months. The emergence of colony collapse disorder has since increased these losses significantly[3]. Research Efforts: Scientists at Washington State University and Cornell University are working on methods to control varroa mites, improve bee nutrition, and understand the interactions of multiple stressors affecting bee health [3]. Current Challenges: Beekeepers are under immense pressure to maintain colony numbers to meet pollination demands, and many are struggling to absorb the financial losses [3]. Conclusion: The projected 70% loss of honey bee colonies in 2025 is a critical issue with significant implications for agriculture and the economy. Ongoing research and management practices are essential to mitigate these losses and ensure the sustainability of pollinator-dependent crops.
Cornell lol - Ithaca, NY is liberal shithole surrounded by Red Staters.
Plenty of bees along the Ohio. Both wild and colonized.
Seen an Instagram post by a bee keeper and searched for more info. The sauce is AI generated as it was the most current info I could find.
No trouble if you are planting the Monsanto/Bayer aluminum resistant hybrids.