September 09, 2019

Falling Bee Populations

Listen Later

2 minutes

For many years, scientists have been sounding the alarm on the global

struggle of pollinators. A reported 40%

of invertebrate pollinator species, including bees and butterflies, are facing

extinction. And since as much as three-quarters of the world’s food crops

depend on pollination, the decline of these pollinators poses a major threat to

global food security.

Pollinators aid in the production of all sorts of crops, including

coffee, cacao, cotton, apples, and almonds – to name a few. The global value of crops requiring

pollination ranges from $235-$577 billion annually.

Honey bees are among the struggling pollinators. Over the past 15 years, bee colonies have

been disappearing at an alarming rate in what is known as the “colony collapse

disorder.” Some regions have seen losses

of up to 90%.

In the United States, managed honey bee populations declined by nearly

40% over this past winter, the largest such winter decline since surveying

began in 2006.

In recent months, mass honey bee declines have also been reported in Russia, according to the BBC. Russia, which produces a whopping 110,000 tons of honey annually, expects that figure to drop by as much as 20%. The widespread bee decline is likely to not only push up honey prices, but the prices of other popular foods as well. Many staple food crops in Russia, including sunflowers, buckwheat, and fruit trees, rely on bees for pollination.

Experts have blamed the bee decline crisis on a combination of

factors, including pesticides (most notably neonicotinoids), varroa mites, and

climate change.

Bees play a vital role in food production, and their continued decline

will have devastating consequences.

**********

Web Links

Russia alarmed by large fall in bee populations

Photo, posted July 28, 2019, courtesy of Ivan Radic via Flickr.

Earth Wise is a production of WAMC Northeast Public Radio.

...more

View all episodes

View all episodes

Download on the App Store

Download on the App Store

Get it on Google Play

Earth Wise

By Randy Simon

4.7

1515 ratings

September 09, 2019

Falling Bee Populations

Listen Later

2 minutes

For many years, scientists have been sounding the alarm on the global

struggle of pollinators. A reported 40%

of invertebrate pollinator species, including bees and butterflies, are facing

extinction. And since as much as three-quarters of the world’s food crops

depend on pollination, the decline of these pollinators poses a major threat to

global food security.

Pollinators aid in the production of all sorts of crops, including

coffee, cacao, cotton, apples, and almonds – to name a few. The global value of crops requiring

pollination ranges from $235-$577 billion annually.

Honey bees are among the struggling pollinators. Over the past 15 years, bee colonies have

been disappearing at an alarming rate in what is known as the “colony collapse

disorder.” Some regions have seen losses

of up to 90%.

In the United States, managed honey bee populations declined by nearly

40% over this past winter, the largest such winter decline since surveying

began in 2006.

In recent months, mass honey bee declines have also been reported in Russia, according to the BBC. Russia, which produces a whopping 110,000 tons of honey annually, expects that figure to drop by as much as 20%. The widespread bee decline is likely to not only push up honey prices, but the prices of other popular foods as well. Many staple food crops in Russia, including sunflowers, buckwheat, and fruit trees, rely on bees for pollination.

Experts have blamed the bee decline crisis on a combination of

factors, including pesticides (most notably neonicotinoids), varroa mites, and

climate change.

Bees play a vital role in food production, and their continued decline

will have devastating consequences.

**********

Web Links

Russia alarmed by large fall in bee populations

Photo, posted July 28, 2019, courtesy of Ivan Radic via Flickr.

Earth Wise is a production of WAMC Northeast Public Radio.

...more