| A grave situation has developed over recent years | | | | perish in just a short period of time. |
| where it has been established that the honeybee | | | | If that was not enough in 2006 it was being reported |
| population is in decline world wide. A world without | | | | that a strange thing was happening to bee colonies in |
| bees, could you imagine that? Bees have a very | | | | the United States; the hives were being abandoned |
| important job to do to permit the human race to | | | | almost overnight. This was to be known as Colony |
| continue. It has been reported that without the bee | | | | Collapse Disorder (CCD). This subsequently passed on |
| the human race would in all probability not last for | | | | to Europe as well as the UK with disastrous |
| much more than a decade, due to the fact that they | | | | consequences. Reasons for CCD have been |
| in no small part, help to pollinate crops of fruit and | | | | suggested, like parasites and viruses, but even with |
| vegetables along with our garden flowers. Some | | | | large sums of money being spent to ascertain the |
| species of bee have such a close connection with | | | | cause the answer has yet to be found. |
| particular plants that without them the plants would | | | | Yet another problem is likely to affect the bees, a |
| most probably disappear from our countryside for | | | | problem that is unknown at present like the effects |
| ever. If we are to survive therefore, much more | | | | of GM crops and the extreme changes to weather |
| needs to be undertaken in order to save the humble | | | | conditions that may be a result of climate change. |
| bee. | | | | We are all able to to do things to help make a |
| Bees have suffered dramatic declines over recent | | | | difference. We need to throw away garden |
| years from the effect of intensive farming. Since the | | | | pesticides and start growing plants which have |
| Second World War their habitat has fast been | | | | nectar-rich flowers. We can easily start using organic |
| eroded by intensive farming and pollution from the | | | | fruit and vegetables and if we able, set up bee hives |
| increased use of pesticides. | | | | in gardens and find out the best way to be able to |
| Additional issues have had their own impact on the | | | | take care of the bees. They are going to repay your |
| bee, for example cooler wet summers and inbreeding | | | | care and attention by manufacturing honey and wax |
| that has lowered the bee's genetic diversity. An | | | | as well as pollinating your flowers and vegetables. |
| additional serious issue has been the parasite referred | | | | You will possibly not feel that these kind of |
| to as the Varroa mite which unfortunately weakens | | | | comparatively basic actions can undoubtedly help to |
| the bees immune system, which in turn results in the | | | | make a positive change to the plight of the bee, but |
| bees becoming exposed to attack from various | | | | when all of us take action, however modest, |
| other diseases. When a colony becomes | | | | collectively it will eventually produce a significant |
| contaminated by way of the mite and it is left | | | | improvement to the plight of the humble bee. |
| untreated it is likely that the colony will probably | | | | |