Plight of the Honey Bees

Wright 1

Heather Wright

Bursch

Honors Biology, Period 5

2 December 2013

Plight of the Honey Bees

Over the years, the honey bee population has decreased greatly.  Throughout the past ten years, bees have been dying in vast numbers with an unknown cause as to why.  Not many people have noticed a difference in the bee population and many beekeepers and scientists are wondering what it will take and how long for humans to realize that they need to do something about it.  

The most recent phenomenon regarding the plight of the honey bees is called the Colony Collapse Disorder (CCD).  The CCD has been occurring more abruptly than other phenomenons in the past, such as “spring dwindle,” “autumn collapse,” “disappearing disease” and “May disease.”  Data from www.fourthbranchofamerica.com shows that “U.S. beekeepers lost ¼ of their colonies, which is five times the normal average … the bee disappearances are a mystery : they leave their colonies seeking food and simply never return.  [Only a] few dead bees have been found in or around the colonies.”  Scientists and beekeepers have been trying to discover the reason and find a resolution for why honey bees have been abandoning their swarm and fleeing their colonies.  The researchers have had no luck whatsoever detecting any signs of as to why the bees are leaving, but are hoping that they can find an answer soon.  

One alarming problem that could arise during the CCD is the endangerment or extinction of the honey bee population.  With a miniscule amount of honey bees able to pollinate the world’s plants, it makes the job much harder for other insects to do.  For example, according to www.fws.gov, “bees, wasps, moths, butterflies, flies, and beetles” would need to take over the pollination process that the honey bees are unable to do.  It would be extremely difficult for the other insects to take over the honey bee’s job.  Since there could potentially be a whole species of bees becoming extinct, then some species of plants may become extinct as well, if there are not enough pollinators to germinate the plants.  

If beekeepers and scientists want humans to take action about the honey bee population decreasing, then a common fruit, vegetable, nut, or seed that most people are dependent on will need to become endangered or extinct.  According to www.fourthbranchofamerica.com, bees pollinate “80% of our flowering crops which constitutes ⅓ of everything we eat.”  Without honey bees, a majority of our food supply would be nonexistent.  If a mass number of the bee population did not exist, then the plants that are dependent on honey bee pollination would disappear as well, “potentially reducing mankind to little more than a bread and water diet” (fourthbranchofamerica.com).  Although “honey bees as a species are not in danger of extinction, … their ability to support the industry of commercial pollination, and by extension, a large portion of our food supply, is in serious danger” (businessinsider.com).  Despite the assumption that honey bees are not expected to become extinct, the dwindling number of bees is alarming and could lead to serious food supply disruption.  Some people argue that pollination could be done by humans, other insects, or natural conditions, but it is more laborious and it would not be as productive as the honey bees themselves.  

All in all, the Colony Collapse Disorder is making scientists, researchers, and beekeepers very confused.  They are not sure of where the bees are disappearing to and if it will lead to long term effects such as endangerment or extinction of the honey bee species and the possible extinction of plant species.  In order for a critical mass of people to become aware and “wake up” to the plight of the honey bees, I believe that either a bee or plant species will need to become endangered or extinct.  If we do not realize the severity of the problem before it’s too late, then multiple species could disappear forever and we could potentially lose an important source of our farmed food supply.  

Works Cited

Feliciano, Kimberly, and Phaneuf, Sandra. "Importance of Honey Bees for
Sustaining Life on Earth." FBA/TIC The Importance of Honey Bees for
Sustaining Life on Earth. Fourth Branch of America, n.d. Web. 
01 December 2013.
"Pollinators." About Pollinators - U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. U.S. Fish and 
Wildlife Services, 4 November 2013. Web. 01 December 2013.

Spector, Dina. "What Our World Would Look Like Without Honeybees." 
Business Insider. Business Insider, 22 June 2013. Web. 
01 December 2013.