Bee Extinction = Human Extinction
A lawsuit has been filed against the Department of the Interior and the US Fish and Wildlife Service to place the rusty patched bumble bee on the Endangered Species list. The population of this species, scientists say, has declined by 95% when compared to other types of bees. Although the Xerxes Society petitioned the Interior Department last year to have the bee put on the list, no action had been taken at the time they filed the suit with cooperation from the Natural Resources Defense Council.
Honey bees, which are a different subspecies from bumble bees and are used by farmers are also experiencing significant losses in population size. Scientists call this problem Colony Collapse Disorder. The buildup of intense agriculture, pesticides and imported diseases have been hypothesized to be behind the problem. But, researchers have found that these bees are being fed high fructose corn syrup and other honey substitutes. The problem with this practice is that honey made from pollen gives bees the ability to break down pesticides using a chemical called p-coumaric acid. The chemical helps build up the immune system of the bees and allows them to fight mites, pesticides and disease. Without consuming honey, bees cannot build up their immune systems.
More work is done to figure out exactly what causes Colony Collapse Disorder. But, we should follow the precautionary principle and make sure that bees are as healthy as possible. This means stopping the use of high-fructose corn syrup and other cheaper honey substitutes. Bees need to eat honey. We also need to use organic agriculture instead of overusing pesticides which bees might have problems tolerating. High fructose corn syrup is also made with GMO corn which may or may not be safe for the long-term use with bees.
More updates will be posted as information becomes available.
