jdmann@labrea.stanford.edu (09/24/89)
/* Written 10:30am 9/21/89 by David Yarrow(jdmann) in en.agriculture */
/* ----------------- BEE POPULATIONS DECLINING -------------------- */
Severe Agriculture Repercussions Possible
Source: Whole Foods, October, 89
The native bee population is in danger of severe depletions due to
several parasites that are killing queen bees, according to a bee keeper
who is involved in queen rearing. The repercussions of the situation,
according to Steve Zimmerman of Dawes Hill Honey, Newfield, NY, include
several problems with pollination of several crops as well as a reduction
in the availability of honey, royal jelly and bee pollen.
"The bee industry, especially in the Northeast, has already been hard hit
by exotic parasites, or mites, that are killing off the bee population,"
said Zimmerman. "In northern NY there have been losses of up to 80%, while
half of the population in Maine has been lost. This is a crisis situation,
because bees are unheralded angels of agriculture."
Zimmerman told Whole Foods that a similar situation in England during the
1920's "wiped out" 95% of the bees in that country.
Zimmerman notes that bees are essential for the production of honey, bee
pollen and royal jelly, but states that "their value as pollinators is one
hundred times greater than honey, representing billions of dollars worth of
crops." He notes that some regional crops, such as New Jersey blueberries,
"are entirely dependent on bee pollination." Cranberries, apples, pears,
buckwheat, and wild crops such as basswood trees are some of the crops
dependent on bee pollination, Zimmerman states.
"The general population will feel the result of this mite infestation
very soon," Zimmerman comments. "The growers are already very concerned."
Zimmerman explains that several parasites are involved, including a
"tracheal mite" that gets into the tracheal tubes of honey bees and causes
"high winter losses." Other mites are even more deadly, he adds.
Zimmerman comments that "some bee keepers are fighting the mites with
chemicals," but he feels that "that is a short-range solution at best."
Some hope for a real solution does exist, Zimmerman relates. He and some
other bee keepers are involved in "intensive queen rearing," he explains,
which involves raising queen bees that show resistance to the tracheal
mites. Done in conjunction with Cornell University, the program entails
importing a special stock of queen bees which show some promise of mite
resistance. The eggs laid by these queens are then grafted onto queen
cells, and placed into queenless bee colonies.
"I have great hope that we will be successful," Zimmerman comments.
"Resistance does exist, and we are having some success. But this will be
ongoing for a number of years. I hope that within 10 years we can breed a
bee that has resistance to all the mite threats," he adds.
=============================================================
COMMENTARY: Zimmerman provides no comment on the source of the mites,
except to say they are "exotic." Nor does he associate the infestations
with environmental factors such as acid rain, although, like tree deaths
and weakening, this is a logical factor to consider.
It is curious to note that dowsers (people who locate underground water
by "divining" or "witching") report that natural colonies of bees always
are sited above an underground water stream. They also report that colonies
sited over a crossing of underground streams a vigorous and produce as much
as 50% more honey.
-+*+- David Yarrow, the turtle, for SOLSTICE magazine
***** SOLSTICE: Perspectives on Health and Environment is published
bimonthly at 200 E. Main St Suite H, Charlottesville, VA 22901 804-979-4427
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