The decline of honeybees in the United States — a third of the country’s hives were wiped out in 2008 — and elsewhere has been a matter of concern for a number of years. Recent studies in France and Britain now point the finger at a class of pesticides known as neonicotinoids. These commonly-used pesticides, which are often used to treat seed corn ahead of planting, work against the bees in two ways: by confusing their homing capability and limiting their ability to provide enough food to their hives for producing new queens. Other studies in the U.S. and Germany indict the pesticides but for different reasons. Calls for banning neonicotinoids were immediate.
Why should we care about bees and pesticides? Honeybees are responsible for pollinating some 70% of the earth’s food crops. No less an authority than Albert Einstein predicted that “if the bee disappeared off the surface of the globe, man would have only four years to live.” Bees are also an indicator species. What happens to them has effects further up the chain of life. To the organic gardener, the honeybee studies are just another reason to resist the use of chemical pesticides. And not just for the sake of the bees.
Eric Vinje founded Planet Natural with his father Wayne in 1991, originally running it as a grasshopper bait mail-order business out of a garage.
Eric is now retired, but is still a renowned gardener known for his expertise in composting, organic gardening and pest control, utilizing pesticide-free options, such as beneficial insects.
Eric believes when you do something good for the environment, the effects will benefit generations to come.
Copyright © 2004-2023
4 Responses to “Bee Afraid”
This will shock the earth and we have known about this for a very very long time.
Why do humans have to loose what they love before they miss it?
Bee very afraid
it is very important to save the honey bees because with out them we are screwed i em a beekeeper they are not just bugs to me they are a part of my family we need to make bee friendly yards and homes we need to use that space for the honey bees instead of having perfect grass it like a deserted to the bees. we also have to become aware of what we are useing in are gardens,lawn,plants,homes,cars too
Great quote, but unfortunately Einstein didn’t say it! http://quoteinvestigator.com/2013/08/27/einstein-bees
A few years ago I read an article that said we’d actually have 14 years left. Apparently I didn’t save it or I would share it here. None-the-less we need to do all we can to protect the bees.