Naked Science Forum

Life Sciences => Plant Sciences, Zoology & Evolution => Topic started by: goofkid on 30/06/2007 18:50:43

Title: what happend to the bees?
Post by: goofkid on 30/06/2007 18:50:43
Anyone know what happend to the disappearing bees in the states?? or why? i lost track of that problem.
Title: what happend to the bees?
Post by: DoctorBeaver on 30/06/2007 18:52:47
Could it e ecause 1 of the keys on the keyoard isn't working?  [:D]
Title: what happend to the bees?
Post by: goofkid on 30/06/2007 18:56:08
LoL ..i've suffered from that too every now and then
Title: what happend to the bees?
Post by: another_someone on 30/06/2007 23:18:50
Have heard similar issues in the UK.  Not sure if it applies to all bees or only domesticated bees.

I have heard stories of various diseases now entering colonies (varroatosis, I think).  This may be even more of a problem in the US, where it seems that bee-keepers tend to move around the country as different plants come into season in different parts of the country (US beekeeping seemingly being more about comercial polination than about honey production).

I have heard that varroatosis has also made beekeepers wary about taking on feral hives, lest they infect their current stock; but this ofcourse also reduces the availability of new stock.
Title: what happend to the bees?
Post by: DoctorBeaver on 30/06/2007 23:20:13
In all seriousness, this is the first I've heard of it.
Title: what happend to the bees?
Post by: another_someone on 30/06/2007 23:41:20
Quote from: DoctorBeaver on 30/06/2007 23:20:13
In all seriousness, this is the first I've heard of it.

I have heard reports of it, but cannot say how widespread this is, or just some people being alarmist.
Title: what happend to the bees?
Post by: Karen W. on 01/07/2007 04:08:12
I have heard nothing until now.. just as doc said!
Title: what happend to the bees?
Post by: paul.fr on 01/07/2007 07:29:35
I believe that, colleen, caroln and I have discussed this before...somewhere. any way, here is an update.
http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=9972616
Quote

Morning Edition, May 3, 2007 · An affliction called Colony Collapse Disorder is killing honey bees in large numbers. May Berenbaum, head of the Department of Entomology at the University of Illinois, says a bigger mystery is why bees are not returning to their hives. Are environmental conditions destroying the bees' navigation system?


http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=6326020
Quote
Morning Edition, October 19, 2006 · A new report from the National Academy of Sciences says the honey bees that pollinate billions of dollars worth of farm crops are in decline. That could spell trouble for the farm economy.
Title: what happend to the bees?
Post by: goofkid on 01/07/2007 08:39:01
The very strange thing about this whole deal is...
That the bees are deserting their living places LEAving the queen BEHIND (which is VEry unusual). The queen and her eggs are never left unguarded but it is happening now in the states. This is apparently causing a serious lack in honey and less bees means less pollination for flowers They are either dying or flying off to somewhere....Costing USA a couple million dollars in total.

At least thats what i know....
Title: what happend to the bees?
Post by: DoctorBeaver on 01/07/2007 08:49:44
A couple of million dollars? That's pocket money.
Title: what happend to the bees?
Post by: goofkid on 01/07/2007 09:17:27
True true......but its still a natural loss....and there SHOULD be an explanation. Animals usually have better senses than humans. Did you know that there wasn't a single dead animal in the hurricane katrina disaster? All the animals sensed something wrong was abt to happen and migrated or moved. The only animals to die were the ones that where tied against something. I found that interesting.
Title: what happend to the bees?
Post by: DoctorBeaver on 01/07/2007 09:43:24
Goofkid - I'm not sure there were no dead, untied animals; but I remember reading that certainly a lot more than expected had "run away" prior to the event.

I've seen this sort of thing a few times myself in Africa when animals will seemingly disappear just prior to something happening.
Title: what happend to the bees?
Post by: goofkid on 01/07/2007 17:24:12
That's awsome...superior senses lol.
Title: what happend to the bees?
Post by: Karen W. on 01/07/2007 17:41:25
Like earth quakes storms etc etc etc..
Title: what happend to the bees?
Post by: dentstudent on 02/07/2007 07:30:27
Quote from: DoctorBeaver on 01/07/2007 09:43:24

I've seen this sort of thing a few times myself in Africa when animals will seemingly disappear just prior to something happening.

You see this a lot in humans, when there is washing up to be done!
Title: what happend to the bees?
Post by: Karen W. on 02/07/2007 08:12:57
LOL LOL LOL.. How true how true..Hee hee hee!
Title: what happend to the bees?
Post by: DoctorBeaver on 03/07/2007 23:07:15
Quote from: dentstudent on 02/07/2007 07:30:27
Quote from: DoctorBeaver on 01/07/2007 09:43:24

I've seen this sort of thing a few times myself in Africa when animals will seemingly disappear just prior to something happening.

You see this a lot in humans, when there is washing up to be done!
(https://www.thenakedscientists.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fbestsmileys.com%2Flol%2F1.gif&hash=d8e6686452e290c988dbac6c3e01d75a)
Title: what happend to the bees?
Post by: ukmicky on 04/07/2007 02:55:04
i know what happened to the bees ,karen killed them all :)
Title: what happend to the bees?
Post by: Karen W. on 04/07/2007 07:19:00
LOL LOL....Yes Michael..the CHICKEN has killed all the bees.. LOL NOT YET I am afraid, as they are still buzzing around and I want to try to find someone who can come TAKE THEM OUT and save the nest! LOL