The Bees are Dying!

The bees are dying and they need our help!
What is happening?
Honey bees are close to extinction and suffering from CCD (Colony Collapse Disorder) meaning that bees are abruptly disappearing from their colonies without explanation. Since 2006, North American migratory beekeepers have seen an annual 30 percent to 90 percent loss in their colonies; non-migratory beekeepers noted an annual loss of over 50 percent. Losses have been reported in Canada, as well as several countries in Europe, Asia, and Central and South America.

Why is it happening?
Scientists are unsure of what is causing this global epidemic, thus leading to endangerment of the bees, mainly because there are no bodies to examine. Original assumptions varied from environmental change-related stress, malnutrition, pathogens, mites, pesticides, genetically modified crops to radiation from cellular and man made devices. All of these factors relate to the CCD in some way and scientists believe that a combination of the above factors have led to bees immune systems becoming weak and their stress increasing.
Environmental Change-related Stress:
This is a large factor to the endangerment of the honey bees as it can have a direct impact on honey bee mental and physical state. Climate change can also affect flowers and plants meaning that the harvesting capacity of a colony can increase and decrease dramatically. It can also affect the competitive relationships between the bee species, other species and their pathogens and viruses. A 17 year, Toronto based study has shown that climate change may be causing flowers to open too soon (before bees have come out of hibernation) therefore meaning a decline in pollination.
Malnutrition:
Honey bees require ample amounts of both carbohydrates and protein. The honey provides the carbohydrates and the pollen provides the protein. Bees usually store up enough honey to make it through the winter, meaning they have enough carbohydrates to live off of, but when it comes to sufficient amounts of protein, the bees are lacking as there are no cheap substitutes. A colony with bees covering 12 frames in August will be a 3 or 4 frame colony in February. Beekeepers and researchers believe that CCD is related to malnutrition as it is seen that bees with better nutrition are better prepared against virus and pathogen attacks.
Pathogens and Mites:
Bees are targeted by a highly contagious and common disease known as Nosemosis, Foulbrood, hive beetles, Vespa Velutina and Verroa Mite (form Asia). These help eradicate bees and larvae in and out of the hive and can also be affected by climate change when it makes a bee more stressed and damages its immune system.
Pesticides:
Contact pesticides are usually sprayed on plants and can kill bees when they crawl over sprayed surfaces of plants or other areas around it. Systemic pesticides, on the other hand, are usually incorporated into the soil or onto seeds and move up into the stem, leaves, nectar, and pollen of plants. If a bee becomes contaminated whilst foraging it may immediately die and not affect the Queen or nursing bees and the rest of the colony but if a contaminated bee flies back into the hive or a hive is infected then their may be widespread colony deaths. Neonicotinoids are confirmed to be toxic to bees. Pesticides are now seen as a main factor to CCD.

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Genetically Modified Crops:
GM crops are killing the bees, also. GM crops are drenched in pesticides neonics that are killing the bees when they land on or try to pollinate from them. Other herbicides are also contributing to the killing of the bees. These chemicals are also being sprayed in places like the home, school and public gardens to contain the amount of weeds and unwanted pests. However this all affects are bees.
Why should we care?
If the bees die then over 100 different types of vegetable and fruit crops would become extinct. Most plants would also become extinct because of the lack of pollination. There would be limited food and plant supplies, meaning less oxygen for us to breathe ,also. According to Dr. Albert Einstein, “If the bee disappears from the surface of the earth, man would have no more than four years to live. No more bees, no more pollination…no more men”. They feed 90% of the world. Honey bees are responsible for $30 billion a year in crops.
How Can We Help?
There are very simple ways for us to help rescue the bees. The simplest way to do so is by respecting the honey bees and preserving their hives. Planting bee-attracting plants or employing beekeepers can be ways to proactively encourage the creation of more bee hives in schools, homes, work places and public green spaces. Joining local bee societies will also help as well as sponsors. Tired bees can be helped by being placed onto a nearby flower or given a sugary food/solution. This will help them to regain their energy. It is as simple as that. What are you waiting for? Help save the bees today! It is never too late to start.

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References:
https://www.researchgate.net/publication/23285587_Climate_change_Impact_on_honey_bee_populations_and_diseases- environmental Change-related Stress
https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2010/sep/08/bees-climate-change-pollination- flower pollination
http://beesource.com/point-of-view/joe-traynor/california-honey-bees-a-history-of-malnutrition/- malnutrition
https://beecare.bayer.com/what-to-know/bee-health/bee-pests-and-pathogens- Pathogens and Mites
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pesticide_toxicity_to_bees- Pesticides
https://www.organicconsumers.org/essays/gmos-are-killing-bees-butterflies-birds-and- GM Crops
http://www.bbc.com/future/story/20140502-what-if-bees-went-extinct- Why Should We Care?
http://www.beesfree.biz/The%20Buzz/Bees-Dying- How Can We Help?