Learn about problems facing bees today.

BEE BACKGROUND:

There are close to 4,000 bee species in North America. While the honey bee often receives most of the media attention, all pollinators offer valuable contributions. Bees are an essential part of our food supply by pollinating 1/3 of the average diet. This places the monetary value of honeybees at about $15-20 billion annually.  To produce a pound of honey, foraging bees have to fly a 55,000 miles and it takes about 556 foraging bees to visit 2 million flowers, just to make a pound of honey. Honeybees are considered a "keystone species" meaning they are crucial to the health of the ecosystem.

The Columbus Area is well known for its agricultural riches. As a result of sudden pollen scarcity from monoculture practices and a variety of other factors, even Ohio bees are struggling. One of the elements to blame could be a phenomenon named Colony Collapse Disorder (CCD). While no direct cause has been found, there are a number of possible variables:

• The use of pesticides or neonicotinoids

• Parasites that infiltrate the hive like varroa mite

• Viruses like the Nosema Virus

• Stresses due to poor nutrition (lack of plant/nectar diversity)

• Habitat Destruction

• Climate Change

  • bees are being killed off by increased heat and destruction of habitat due to climate change.

• Migratory Stresses (with large commercial beekeeping)

While these can contribute to CCD, even alone these elements can pose a huge threat to bees.

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