Scientists May Have Finally Pinpointed What's Killing All The Honeybees

[one...two...tree 2,762]

Where have all the honeybees gone?

A new study seems to strengthen the evidence linking pesticides used on crops to colony collapse disorder in honeybees.

Colony collapse disorder, or CCD, is a phenomenon in which honeybees inexplicably disappear from their hives. The bodies of the dead bees are typically never found.

Researchers led by Chensheng Lu of Harvard University have pinpointed the collapse of honeybee colonies on a class of pesticides known as neoniotinoids — insecticides that also act as nerve poisons and mimic the effects of nicotine. Scientists specifically looked at how low doses of two neoniotinoids — imidacloprid and clothianidin — affected healthy bee hives over the course of a winter.

The results of the study "reinforce the conclusion that sub-lethal exposure to neonicotinoids is likely the main culprit for the occurrence of CCD," the authors wrote in their paper, published May 9 in the Bulletin of Insectology.

Disappearing Bees

Colony collapse disorder was first widely reported in America in 2006. Since then, a complex web of factors has been attributed to the mass honeybee die-offs, including everything from disease, parasites, and poor nutrition to the stress of being trucked around the country each year to pollinate different orchards.

Many scientists have theorized that a combination of these factors with exposure to pesticides could be causing the CCD phenomenon.

In contrast, the new study found that long-term exposure to small amounts of neonicotinoids wasn't compromising the bees' immune resistance to pathogens — the hives had just as many infections when they weren't exposed to pesticides. This suggests that "neonicotinoids are causing some other kind of biological mechanism in bees that in turn leads to CCD," according to a release.

http://finance.yahoo.com/news/scientists-may-finally-pinpointed-whats-221000439.html

[TBoneTX 45,287]

If the conclusion is accurate, then the scientists and beekeepers finally have a path to pursue.

[Crashed~N2~Me 970]

I likes Honey...especially with peanut butter & graham crackers.. or on pancakes...also very good in oatmeal.....& Ginseng Tea.

[JohnR! 5,495]

I likes Honey...especially with peanut butter & graham crackers.. or on pancakes...also very good in oatmeal.....& Ginseng Tea.

And honey is just one small example of the impact bees have in our ecosystem and food chain.

[Crashed~N2~Me 970]

And honey is just one small example of the impact bees have in our ecosystem and food chain.

I have multiple responses please....

1) Are you talking down to me with your fancy science talk?

2) If I likes to eat it then I care. Otherwise....you know the answer.

3) I came here for the Honey.

[Harpa Timsah 13,258]

I just read an article like this a few months ago, and it said the problem was "finally" solved, and the problem was fungicides used on crops. Pesticides were one of the first things they checked because pesticides kill bugs and bees are bugs, but I thought it was not that, hence the lengthy inquiry about it.

Anyway, save the bees! We need bees!

[luckytxn 2,264]

Yeah without bees we have little food to eat. Also I have noticed for years that there has been huge problems with bees entering homes and residing. Maybe they are tired of the crops and their poisons and decided to become city folk. Lots of plants in the city.

I just read an article like this a few months ago, and it said the problem was "finally" solved, and the problem was fungicides used on crops. Pesticides were one of the first things they checked because pesticides kill bugs and bees are bugs, but I thought it was not that, hence the lengthy inquiry about it.

Anyway, save the bees! We need bees!

[deleted-05292014 331]

What a wonderful earth we are leaving for future generations huh?

[Dakine10 5,452]

If the conclusion is accurate, then the scientists and beekeepers finally have a path to pursue.

I imagine Monsanto is already hard at work on this. It's likely only a matter of time before we have genetically modified, pesticide resistant franken-bees.

[B_J 2,752]

What a wonderful earth we are leaving for future generations huh?

You are correct. You should tell us more about that.

[OnMyWayID 1,489]

I imagine Monsanto is already hard at work on this. It's likely only a matter of time before we have genetically modified, pesticide resistant franken-bees.

Its all about balance.. While they are fixing the bees I hope they can take out the stingers.. Or maybe convert the poison into a type of vaccination against rabies or something useful... and lets get the calorie count down on the honey.

[Crashed~N2~Me 970]

Its all about balance.. While they are fixing the bees I hope they can take out the stingers.. Or maybe convert the poison into a type of vaccination against rabies or something useful... and lets get the calorie count down on the honey.

& maybe they could sub in Splenda for the sweetener?

(Splenda = fewer calories...lots less sugar...fat magnet...and BM helper.....it's all good...except too much has some evidence of causing cancer but what doesn't? & too much is like waaaaaay too much..any1 that consumes that -waaaaaay too - much of anything really doesn't deserve to live anyway)

[OnMyWayID 1,489]

& maybe they could sub in Splenda for the sweetener?

(Splenda = fewer calories...lots less sugar...fat magnet...and BM helper.....it's all good...except too much has some evidence of causing cancer but what doesn't? & too much is like waaaaaay too much..any1 that consumes that -waaaaaay too - much of anything really doesn't deserve to live anyway)

Splenda.. I like the name. I need to see if Marvelon is trade marked, it would be a great new name for the new low calorie honey that the super bees produce.

[Novembro 1,763]

Splenda tastes like the devil's bumhole.

[Dakine10 5,452]

Its all about balance.. While they are fixing the bees I hope they can take out the stingers.. Or maybe convert the poison into a type of vaccination against rabies or something useful... and lets get the calorie count down on the honey.

A little altruism might lead to broader public support for genetic engineering. Unfortunately the track record isn't there.

The industry lists reduced need for herbicides and pesticides as major reasons for GMO's and yet more than 90% of the research and funding to date has been for developing herbicide and pesticide tolerant crops that has led to increased use of these toxins.