Bee Colony Collapse
Food Chain Radio Show #1049
Michael Olson, Author & Urban Farming Agriculturalist
Bee Colony Collapse
What is killing the Bees?
Guest: Hamutahl Cohen, Natural Science Graduate Student University of California, Santa Cruz
Michael Olson Food Chain Radio – Bee Colony Collapse – What is killing the bees?
They are the canaries in the mine of our environment, and they are dying.
In the United States domesticated bee colony populations have collapsed to a 50-year low, and are continuing to collapse. So many bees are dying, in fact, the federal government is considering listing some as protected species under the Endangered Species Act (ESA).
There are two popular theories as to why populations of bees are collapsing.
The European Union points to the pesticides being poured out onto the environment, and are moving to ban those of the neonicotinoid class. The United States points to parasites such as the Varroa mite, bacterial diseases like foulbrood and the multiple species of viruses associated colony collapse disorder.
Both theories, however, are simple theories, and as of yet, no substantive reason has yet to be proved up.
Since all is theory, all are free to theorize, and so we look for a reason to a place few consider– in the belly of bee– and ask…
Leave a comment below: What is killing the bees?
Tune in here, for the syndicated Food Chain Radio Show #1049 March 26, 2016 Saturday 9AM Pacific
