The endangered honey bee – global implications

On a trip though the USA last year I heard this chilling quotation: ‘If bees disappear from the surface of the Earth, man will have no more than four years to live.’ Once home, I began a flurry of research. The prediction (erroneously attributed to Einstein) was first written down in 1955. Today Colony Collapse Disorder has serious implications for plants, wildlife and yes – humans.

HISTORY

Honey has been part of the human diet and used medicinally for thousands of years. There is evidence that the Egyptians and the ancient Greeks farmed honey.

Research has indicated that honeybees originated in Africa and are almost as old as flowering plants. They then spread into Europe in two ancient migrations. In the New World the introduction of the European honeybee began in North America as early as 1622. In 1956 a subspecies from Africa was introduced into Brazil in an attempt to increase honey production. The descendants of these bees spread rapidly northward, hybridising with and displacing the previous European honeybee, resulting in the African killer bee. The killer bee stopped its northward migration in 1999 as the winters were too cold.

COLONY COLLAPSE DISORDER (CCD)

CCD is little understood and has scientists baffled. It was first reported in Northern America in late 2006. European beekeepers observed a similar phenomenon in Belgium, France, the Netherlands, Greece, Portugal, Spain, Switzerland, Austria, England, Slovenia and Germany. Cases have been reported in Taiwan and India since April 2007. Losses of up to 80% have been reported. The theorised causes are environmental changes, malnutrition, mites, viruses, pesticides, EMFs (electromagnetic frequencies or radiation from cellular phones and other man-made devices), and GM (genetically modified) crops.

SYMPTOMS

CCD is characterised by complete absence of adult bees, with no build up of dead bees in or around the colonies. Capped brood (unhatched larvae) is present (bees will not normally desert a hive until all the brood has hatched). Food in the form of honey and pollen is present in the hive. Other bees do not rob deserted hives. The workforce is made up of juvenile bees and the Queen is present. The remaining bees are reluctant to consume the food provided.

ENVIRONMENTAL CHANGES

Erratic weather patterns could be playing havoc with the bees’ sensitive cycles. Some say that plants are flowering earlier than previously, when it is still too cold for honeybees to collect pollen, so they are missing out on that important source of pollen. Dry hot conditions also affect the pollen and nectar flow. Buds shrivel up and die before the honeybees can harvest the pollen, or the bees harvest sterile pollen, causing malnutrition.

ELECTROMAGNETIC FREQUENCIES

Some scientists say that the radiation given off by cell phones and other hi-tech gadgets is interfering with the bees’ navigational system, preventing them from returning to their hives.

GENETICALLY MODIFIED CROPS

Genetically modified, insect-resistant crops now constitute 40% of corn crops in America. Research at the University of Jenna (2001 - 2004) investigated the effect on bees of pollen from the GM maize crop ‘BT corn’.¹ The study concluded that there was no evidence of a toxic effect on healthy honeybees. However the bees used in the experiment were infested with a parasite, resulting in a significant decline in the bees fed the BT crop. According to studies the bacterial toxin may have altered the surface of the bees’ intestines, weakening them and allowing the parasites to gain entry. Bee colonies most badly affected have been close to GM maize, cotton, soya beans, canola, sunflowers, apples, vines and pumpkins.

VARROA MITE

Definite losses have occurred due to the Varroa mite, but it is certain to be temporary.[JC1]

Using the cattle industry as an example, it is not pathogenic forces that are threatening the stock, but rather decades of connivance and intervention involving antibiotics, hormones and other ‘propping up’ of the species. In a bid to avoid having to work with a species that seems overly aggressive, humans have been cultivating a more docile temperament in the bee. Consequently bees are not equipped to deal with these mites. As with predation, only the strongest and fittest survive.

VIRUS – ISRAEL ACUTE PARALYSIS VIRUS (IAPV)

Scientists undertaking genetic analysis of American bees collected over the past few years have discovered that IAPV was present 95% of the time. They do not believe that this virus is the main cause – all the other factors considered lead up to the viral attack. Australian bees also tested positive for the virus; however there has been no evidence of CCD in the Australian colonies. Australia exports $45 million worth of bees to North America annually. CCD has been reported as a northern hemisphere phenomenon.

PESTICIDES

It is particularly difficult to evaluate pesticide contribution to CCD. The variety of pesticides reported in CCD areas makes it impossible to test for all the pesticides at once. Bee farmers are migratory, often transporting hives over long distances and exposing the colony to a variety of pesticides. The bees themselves put the nectar and honey into long-term storage, meaning there is a delay in feeding the contaminated provisions to the colony. Pesticides are more likely to enter the colony via pollen stores rather than via nectar. The nectar would kill the bees if it were toxic. Broods are fed nectar, while the workers eat honey. CCD hives have brood intact, so the bees must leave because the honey is toxic.

One recently published view is that the bees are falling victim to nicotine-based pesticides.² All the affected hives as well as the soil would need to be tested.

ANTIBIOTICS AND MITICIDES

Most beekeepers affected by CCD have reported using antibiotics and miticides (insecticide) in their colonies. Hives of organic beekeepers do not seem to be affected with the disorder.

POLLINATION

Bees are important pollinators, especially in the agricultural industry. It is estimated that one-third of the human food supply depends on bee pollination. This has led to a vast industry in the Americas of migratory beekeepers so that bees can be concentrated where pollination is needed. Pollination improves the yield and quality of the crop and seeds.

Honeybees participate in the sexual reproduction of plants, ensuring cross-pollination and genetic diversity. Plants are the major food source for animals and humans alike.

HOW HUMANS MANIPULATE BEES

In his lectures on bees in 1923 Rudolph Steiner predicted the dire state of the honeybee today.³ He said that in 50 - 80 years we would see the consequences of mechanising the forces that had previously operated organically in the beehive. This includes breeding the Queen bee artificially.

The following are ways in which humans manipulate bee colonies:

· Larvae are raised in separate quarters and royal jelly is fed to produce Queens, which are then shipped by post to keepers.

· Bees are selected for docility.

· Hives are re-queened after 1 or 2 years instead of the normal 5 - 6 years.

· Queens are grafted (artificially produced).

· Larvae are moved to artificial cups for transportation.

· Chemical agents are used to control diseases and pests.

· Ready-made combs are provided in place of bee-constructed combs.

· Wax is supplied (as opposed to the bees making it).

· Ventilators are used.

· Queen excluders are used to prevent eggs being laid in inconvenient areas of the hive.

· Hives are moved over long distances.

· The Queen’s wings are clipped.

· The agricultural practice of monoculture wreaks havoc on the honeybees’ diet.

CONCLUSION

Bees are the true alchemists of nature – no other creature can protect or project the knowledge they do. Humans don’t yet know how to pollinate crops. As such CCD may seriously affect our food production, economy, and indeed our sustainability here on earth.

References

1. http://www.spiegel.de/international/world/0,1518,473166,00.html

2.http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Colony_Collapse_Disorder#Varroa_and_Israel_Acute_Paralysis_Virus

3. http://wn.rsarchive.org/Lectures/Dates/19120229p01.html

Resources

1. Daily Record United Kingdom:

http://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/news/uk-world-news/2008/02/09/bee-virus-could-wipe-out-mankind-warn-scientists-86908-20313331/

2. BBC News:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/science/nature/3523453.stm

3. Science Daily:

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2006/10/061025181534.htm

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2007/04/070426100117.htm

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2007/05/070518144833.htm

4. Organic Consumers’ Association:

http://www.organicconsumers.org/articles/article_5356.cfm

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