Extinction of the Bees
By: Ethan Biamont, Sean Hemenway, Caleb Centracco
Why / How are bees dying?
We are Killing Bees...
Bees are being killed by many things, most of them caused by humans and their effect on the environment. Pesticides are the leading cause in the bee’s drop in population. These pesticides are called neonics, and, upon consumption, they cause bees to hallucinate making it hard for them to find their way back to the hive before dying. Another cause of death for bees are the varroa mites. These mites latch on to bees and suck their blood, and the only way bees can rid themselves of these mites is to eat healthy foods. However due to the mass production of corn in the agricultural industry bees can often never find foods of substanence. These problems not only affect bees, but humans as well. Without bees many foods we enjoy today would not exist, and the Earth would be transformed into a infertile and lifeless desert.
Varroa Mites-
Ag. Industry-
Many of today's farms are actually large industrial facilities. These consolidated operations are able to produce food in high volume but have little to no regard for the environment, animal welfare, soil and water quality, or food safety. In order to maximize profits, industrial agriculture often trades the health of consumers and quality of the product, for profit.
Neonics-
Who killed the Honey Bee?
A closer look at the Agricultural Industry...
Bees all around the world are dying for many reasons including pesticides, mites, and climate change, and the agriculture industry isn’t taking the proper actions. Farmers could prevent this by growing food naturally and in different varieties. Many bees are dying because the industry treats the seeds they sell to farmers with certain pesticides known as neonics. However the farmers are doing little to nothing to help the situation at hand.
More about Neonics...
In a blog post from Environment Texas it talks about neonicotinoid, a pesticide that is very potent in flowers and plants in retail stores like Home Depot, Lowes, and Walmart. This pesticide has been found in many dying bees and could be a possible cause of CCD. People have gotten rid of this in retail stores in Europe and the United States is taking its first measures against these pesticides because people are seeing what it is doing to the bees.
Soulutions
1.) Farms should grow a variety of plants in the same general area
2.) Farmers shouldn't treat seeds with pesticides
3.) Farmers should raise bees along with their plants to further his/her crop yield
Finally, those of you who have heard this today, though you may not be farmers, you can help to make a difference in society by buying only freshly grown produce.