Busy bees 1 Disappearing honeybee

Honeybees are disappearing at an "alarming" rate. 2 65% of all flowering plants require Insects for Pollination

'Colonies lost' The government says bee numbers have fallen by up to 15% in the last two years, in part because agricultural changes have reduced the availability of the wildflowers they depend on for food. Disease, climate change and pesticide use have also been blamed for the decline. 3

A single hive of fifty thousand honeybees pollinate half a million plants in one day. According to the USDA, the % of crop plants pollinated by bees:: 100% Almond 90% Apple 90% Broccoli 90% Blueberry 90% Onion 80% Cherry 80% Celery 2% Peanut 1% Grape 4 Bees Pollination Statistics

Importance of Bees and Their Loss According to a 2006 National Academy Science Report: In the US, honeybee colonies are managed by beekeepers who rent their services out for pollination for crops including almonds, apples and blueberries By 1994, these colonies had replaced an est. 98% of the free range (native) honeybees Since the 1980s, there has been a 30% drop in the managed honeybee population Bee keepers inspect once healthy colonies, find adult worker bees gone and an abandoned queen bee often overnight! Bee Colony Collapse Disorder origins is not known but there are several thoughts 5

Importance of Bees and Their Loss Colony Collapse Disorder: Since 2006, bee colonies are continuing to die In this past winter, 33% of the honeybee colonies have died or disappeared 42% increase over last year and well above the 10-15% yearly average lose in normal winters Colonies can be replenished over time but not quickly Pollination is the only chance for maximum yield, eliminate the honeybee and agriculture would be permanently diminished! 6

It is no wonder the dramatic decline in the population of these insects is worrying for everyone. Fewer bees means less pollination, which results in less honey and fewer plants. 7

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Causes? Causes of the Colony Collapse Disorder: Agricultural Pesticides: Neornicotinoids Varroa, an introduced parasite from Australia in the 1980s Bacterial, Fungal and Virus diseases Beekeepers and their practices Combination of all!!!! If the bee disappears from the surface of the Earth, man would have no more than four years to live. Did Al say it? But without bees, the planet would definitely be hungrier! 9

What Can We Do? Stricter regulation of pesticides Plant a garden in your backyard – even in an apartment on a balcony you can! Support organic farmers and shop at local farmers markets as often as possible Cut the use of toxic chemicals in your house and on your lawn, and use only organic, all-natural forms of pest control. Get rid of your lawn altogether and plant a garden or other natural habitat. Lawns offer very little benefit for the environment. Both flower and vegetable gardens provide excellent natural honeybee habitats. 10

Interesting And Amazing Information On Honey Bees Did you know? Bees cant see red. To search for food, honey bees can fly up to 14 kilometres away from their nest. To look for flowers, they usually fly one or two miles. A hard-working bee makes round trips to forage for pollen or honey and can visit anything from flowers a day. 11