Without bees, we'd all feel the sting. (Full Version)

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kalikshama -> Without bees, we'd all feel the sting. (9/7/2012 8:35:32 AM)

A third of our food depends on the pollination of bees.

Imagine a world without bees. Right, there’d be no honey on grocery store shelves. But that would be the least of it.

A full third of the food we eat depends on the pollination work of bees. That includes apples, cucumbers, blueberries and plenty of other common foods.

Bees give us delicious, nutritious foods our taste buds love and our bodies need.

[image]http://www.stonyfield.com/sites/default/files/bees/Bees10FoodsStonyfield.png[/image]

Bees are disappearing.

US beekeepers have been losing about a third of their bees each year, since 2006. Experts call the problem "colony collapse disorder," and they know pesticides are part of the problem.

Since 1982, Pesticide Action Network (PAN) has been working to replace the use of hazardous pesticides with ecologically sound alternatives. Stonyfield is giving $10,000 to PAN to help protect bees from harmful pesticides. Learn more about PAN's work.

You can help.

Want to lend bees a hand? There are things you can do!

DONATE

Join Stonyfield in giving to Pesticide Action Network.

BUY ORGANIC

Organic foods and fibers are grown without the pesticides that threaten bees. Stonyfield’s organic business keeps more than 200,000 acres free of toxic, persistent pesticides.

TELL CONGRESS YOU CARE

Take a minute to ask Congress to stop the use of the pesticide clothianidin.

BE BEE-FRIENDLY AT HOME

With a few simple landscaping and gardening practices, you can help bees live.



SpaceSpank -> RE: Without bees, we'd all feel the sting. (9/7/2012 9:38:46 AM)

We could artificially pollinate anything that required bees. But it would be a tremendous financial burden.

We also couldn't just pollinate the things we eat. The environmental impact would need to be monitored carefully so as not to cause other issues. We'd most likely need to artificially pollinate a ton of flora all over the country just to prevent an environmental disaster.



needlesandpins -> RE: Without bees, we'd all feel the sting. (9/7/2012 10:08:57 AM)

and yet there are those who still think that the world could be forced to be vegetarian.

strangely; while the bee numbers are down, this year i've had alot of honey bees in my house. i assume their hive is close-ish to me, but why they come in the house i have no idea. i've never had so many before.

needles



SpaceSpank -> RE: Without bees, we'd all feel the sting. (9/7/2012 11:28:16 AM)

There's been some advances on the causes of CCD at least. I know just a few years ago they had no idea at all, just wild speculation. But they have made a lot of advances in these last couple of years.

Of course, it could wind up like climate change. Lots of evidence smacking people in the face, but everyone bickering over specifics... so who knows if we'll be able to stop it from being a total disaster.



kalikshama -> RE: Without bees, we'd all feel the sting. (9/7/2012 12:58:20 PM)

quote:

and yet there are those who still think that the world could be forced to be vegetarian.


Did you mean vegan? AFAIK, vegetarians have nothing against bee keeping.



needlesandpins -> RE: Without bees, we'd all feel the sting. (9/7/2012 1:13:18 PM)


quote:

ORIGINAL: kalikshama

quote:

and yet there are those who still think that the world could be forced to be vegetarian.


Did you mean vegan? AFAIK, vegetarians have nothing against bee keeping.


nope, i was refering to the recent thread where it was debated as to whether the world will have to become vegetarian due to water shortages. i argued that it's bumpkum. my point about the bees is that without them being around to pollinate the plants in the first place it's just another tick that makes my point.

however, there are other insects that pollinate plants too, but losing the bees would be a huge impact.

needles



tj444 -> RE: Without bees, we'd all feel the sting. (9/7/2012 1:23:22 PM)

I do think we need bees and its a concern to me since hearing about those little mites that kill the bees too, not just various pesticides..

but i was surprised by a recent story.. the guy started with just one hive and ended up with 3 million bees in 45 hives.. so how hard can it bee to own bees??? Oddly enough you need to register your bee hives in NYC.. [8|]

"Chen allegedly started with one hive a couple years ago, and the insects kept multiplying..."
http://usnews.nbcnews.com/_news/2012/08/23/13435771-3-million-bees-seized-from-queens-ny-mans-home?lite



kalikshama -> RE: Without bees, we'd all feel the sting. (9/7/2012 2:41:08 PM)

I'm partial to the agricultural pesticide theory of CCD, which would not be a factor in Queens.

Colony collapse disorder

According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, pesticides may be contributing to CCD.[85] Scientists have long been concerned that pesticides and possibly some fungicides may have sub-lethal effects on bees, not killing them outright but instead impairing their development and behavior. Of special interest is the class of insecticides called neonicotinoids, which contain the active ingredient imidacloprid, and similar other chemicals, such as clothianidin and thiamethoxam. Honey bees may be affected by such chemicals when they are used as a seed treatment because they are known to work their way through the plant up into the flowers and leave residues in the nectar. Scientists note that the doses taken up by bees are not lethal, but they are concerned about possible chronic problems caused by long-term exposure.[28] Virtually all of the genetically engineered Bt corn grown in the U.S. is treated with neonicoticoids and a 2012 study found high levels of clothianidin in pneumatic planter exhaust. In the study it was found that the insecticide was present in the soil of unplanted fields nearby those planted with Bt corn and on dandelions growing near those fields.[86] Another 2012 study done in Italy also found clothianidin and imidacloprid in the exhaust of pneumatic seeding equipment.

A 2010 survey reported 98 pesticides and metabolites detected in aggregate concentrations up to 214 ppm in bee pollen - this figure represents over half of the individual pesticide incidences ever reported for apiaries. It was suggested that "while exposure to many of these neurotoxicants elicits acute and sublethal reductions in honey bee fitness, the effects of these materials in combinations and their direct association with CCD or declining bee health remains to be determined."[87]

Read more: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Colony_collapse_disorder



Duskypearls -> RE: Without bees, we'd all feel the sting. (9/8/2012 8:26:01 PM)

Here's a good TED video on pollination.

http://www.wimp.com/pollinationbeauty/



MasterG2kTR -> RE: Without bees, we'd all feel the sting. (9/8/2012 8:56:13 PM)

quote:

ORIGINAL: needlesandpins

and yet there are those who still think that the world could be forced to be vegetarian.

strangely; while the bee numbers are down, this year i've had alot of honey bees in my house. i assume their hive is close-ish to me, but why they come in the house i have no idea. i've never had so many before.

needles


you should watch them outside to see where they come and go from.....cuz you might have them in your walls and that may well be the cause for them being in your house.



DarkSteven -> RE: Without bees, we'd all feel the sting. (9/8/2012 9:26:42 PM)


quote:

ORIGINAL: kalikshama

BE BEE-FRIENDLY AT HOME

With a few simple landscaping and gardening practices, you can help bees live.


The suggestions need a little help.

1. They suggest a source of water. Make sure that the surface of the water is broken, say by putting a few rocks in the water. That way, the bees have a spot to stand and won't drown.

2. Add flowers. if you have a lawn, mix in some clover.

3. If you have bees in your home, contact your local beekeeping society and they will transfer the colony to a hive.




Duskypearls -> RE: Without bees, we'd all feel the sting. (9/8/2012 9:27:43 PM)


quote:

ORIGINAL: needlesandpins

and yet there are those who still think that the world could be forced to be vegetarian.

strangely; while the bee numbers are down, this year i've had alot of honey bees in my house. i assume their hive is close-ish to me, but why they come in the house i have no idea. i've never had so many before.

needles


Have you a chimney they can get down?



BambiBoi -> RE: Without bees, we'd all feel the sting. (9/8/2012 9:30:28 PM)

I did a bad thing.

I had a pile of bees dry humping my house. It was literally a pile so thick you couldn't see through it about the size and shape of a baseball mitt. I had them all killed. If I had known they could be made into pumpkins I would never have done so, I love pumpkins.



heartcream -> RE: Without bees, we'd all feel the sting. (9/8/2012 11:07:00 PM)

I love bees. Feel so proud when they are gathering from my blooms. I love bees very deeply. Thank you for the tips to help them survive!



sunshinemiss -> RE: Without bees, we'd all feel the sting. (9/8/2012 11:26:35 PM)

Sunny
Quote of the Day
goes to
Kalikshama
for the title of her thread:
Without bees, we'd all feel the sting.



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