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Wildlife: Bee Gone?
The media are all abuzz about bees—or a lack thereof—these days. Honeybees have vanished from 22 states, with numbers in parts of the East Coast and in Texas dropping by more than 70 percent, according to U.S. Department of Agriculture estimates.
Scientists aren’t sure what is killing the creatures, which were originally imported by European colonists four centuries ago. Theories posed for the cause of “colony collapse disorder” include genetically modified crops, pesticides, an ongoing scourge of mites, a newly discovered fungus, cellular phones or even a plot by Osama bin Laden to destroy American agriculture.
Some researchers also point to stress and bad diet: Bee colonies are often trucked across the country to pollinate crops—and fed artificial supplements. Suburban sprawl may also be playing a role by taking away the bees’ natural forage areas.
Whatever the cause, the potential repercussions are huge: By pollinating flowers, honeybees play a crucial role in the production of many of our favorite foods, from fruits to vegetables to nuts. Native bees can pick up some of the slack, but they and their European cousins will need a helping hand from people to stay busy in the future.
