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Colony Collapse

THERE’S BEEN A LOT OF BUZZ LATELY ABOUT THE DISAPPEARANCE OF MORE THAN A QUARTER OF AMERICA’S HONEYBEES, BUT THE ROOT OF THE PROBLEM REMAINS A MYSTERY.  IT’S THE CASE OF THE MISSING POLLINATORS ON THIS ENVIRONMINUTE.

NO ONE’S QUITE SURE WHY MILLIONS OF BEES ARE DISAPPEARING, BUT THE COLONY COLLAPSES COULD HAVE SERIOUS IMPLICATIONS FOR OUR FOOD SUPPLY.

HACKETT " EVERY THIRD BITE OF FOOD THAT WE EAT DEPENDS ON A CROP THAT WAS POLLINATED, USUALLY BY BEES."

THAT’S KEVIN HACKETT, NATIONAL PROGRAM LEADER FOR THE U-S-D-A BEE AND POLLINATION RESEARCH PROGRAM.  HE SAYS THE CRISIS COULD BE CAUSED BY ONE OR A COMBINATION OF FACTORS.  LIKELY CULPRITS INCLUDE A PARASITE CALLED THE VARROA MITE, AN UNKNOWN BEE VIRUS, PESTICIDES, OR STRESS CAUSED BY LONG DISTANCE TRANSPORT.

RESEARCHERS ARE BUSY AS BEES TRYING TO UNRAVEL THIS MYSTERY, BUT UNTIL THEY DO, HACKET SAYS YOU CAN HELP BY PLANTING POLLINATOR-FRIENDLY PLANTS IN YOUR YARD.

THE ENVIRONMINUTE IS MADE POSSIBLE BY THE HEINZ FAMILY PHILANTHROPIES AND THE HEINZ ENDOWMENTS.  LEARN MORE BY VISITING ENVIRONMINUTE-DOT-COM.

For more information on colony colapse disorder, visit MAAREC.

For more information on pollinator-friendly practices, visit the Wildlife Habitat Council.

For more information on pollinators, visit the Pollinator Partnership.

To read more about this and other environmental health issues, go to: www.environmentalhealthnews.org, www.ourstolenfuture.org, or www.healthandenvironment.org