Millennium HONEY BEES
...back to basics.
Everyday in the news we read about disease spreading around the world. The diseases are not new, but until now have been contained in natural systems where the host has had time to develop immunity. The grief comes when the disease is transported into another system where there is no resistance. This applies to all manner of pests, parasites, bacteria and viruses; to us, to honeybees.
Migrant Workers
Half the honeybees in America - 1.3 million colonies - are trucked to Northern California each February to pollinate the almond orchards, the start of months on the road for the bees. This is the province of commercial beekeeping. Blossoms do not wait, and there is significant economic pressure to make and fill pollination contracts. Research shows that stress, malnutrition and lowered immune systems are endemic among migrant honeybees. They are dying from many causes. They are the honeybees most affected by Colony Collapse Disorder.
It's a downward spiral for honeybees everywhere: As colonies collapse, the remaining bees are trucked farther more often, or more honeybees with their native vermin and diseases are imported - agribusiness commands it. When the last zucchini is pollinated, the honeybees are dispersed by truck to wherever there is nectar - chasing honey it is called. What kills them travels the same roads.
One Continuous Crisis
The following is background for the article opened by the Viral Overload button in the world news column.
A honeybee mite was transported from Asia into developed countries 30 years ago, beginning a worldwide crisis. Being a parasite, it kills on its own. Worse, it harbors viruses which it gives to honeybees. These are varroa mites. They are resistant to the chemicals used against them. An imported varroa may bring a new virus. Or an imported honeybee may bring a new virus, which the varroa vector, just as mosquitos vector malaria in humans.
One viral infection after another is occurring. These multiple infections are literally breaking down life processes at the molecular level in honeybees. Viral overload is described as the root cause of CCD.
Chemicals, Drugs, Toxins
Stressed honeybees get sick. So drugs are placed in the beehives. Pests and parasites take their toll. So chemicals are placed in the beehives. These are toxins. Add the toxins from insecticides and herbicides, and the toxins built into genetically modified crops, and the load goes up. The real trick with chemicals is to kill the pests and parasites but not quite kill the honeybees.
For perhaps fifty years, beekeepers who rear queen honeybees have known that even trace amounts of toxins in beeswax will cause birth defects and poor quality in the queens, therefore plastic cups are used. Now, research on CCD has quantified the issue. The contaminants in beeswax, pollen and honey are mostly from the chemicals, followed by the drugs, followed by agricultural toxins. The high levels found indicate that the chemicals and drugs used by beekeepers are heavily abused because they have become ineffective.
Drugs are often administered in solutions of high fructose corn syrup, the cheapest form of junk food. The syrup artificially pumps up the bee colonies for pollination services, but leads to malnutrition.
Survivor Honeybee
Honeybees survive CCD, or not. Survivor honeybee is a new catchword in beekeeping and research. Communities of local beekeepers study and nurture these honeybees to increase their numbers. Some believe that drugs and chemicals are still necessary.