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Saturday, September 28, 2019 8:56:21 AM
Bees are dying. What can we do about it?
Since 2013, bee populations in some parts of the world have fallen by a third, with phenomena ranging from the spread of the varroa mite to climate change identified for blame.
In Australia, researchers and authorities say local bee populations remain resilient, but in Europe, Asia, North America and even New Zealand, it is a different story.
In a widely-shared post on Facebook that has inspired hashtag #savethebees, the Attenborough fan page warned the disappearance of bees would spell the end of humanity within four years.
"If bees were to disappear from the face of the earth, humans would have just four years left to live," it said.
"If you find a tired bee in your home, a simple solution of sugar and water will help revive an exhausted bee.
"Simply mix two tablespoons of white, granulated sugar with one tablespoon of water, and place on a spoon for the bee to reach."
Plant plants, avoid pesticides
In Australia, amateur beekeepers say the suggestion about sugar water to help bees in distress is sound.
The best things Australians can do to support bees are to plant flowering plants in their gardens, and to support bee colonies when they are swarming in search of a hive, the Amateur Beekeepers Association's Nathan Organ told the ABC's daily podcast The Signal.
"The suburbs are a great place for bees, and that's where backyard gardeners are important, in terms of their use of pesticides and that sort of stuff," he told The Signal.
"If our urban gardens are pesticide free, then our urban honey will have fewer pesticides in it, and the bees will benefit.
"The best thing Australians can do is to plant plants — not necessarily native plants, but plants that the bees love — so typically, blues, yellows and oranges — they're the favourite colours of bees."
The reasons behind the progressive disappearance of bees in most other countries are complex, but bee enthusiast and eco-stress physiologist Dr Reese Halter said the use of neonicotinoids on crops, rising average temperatures globally and the spread of the varroa mite — which causes deformed wing virus in bees — were the principal causes.
Dr Halter said a decision by the European Union to phase out the use of neonicotinoids in all cases except in greenhouses by the end of this year was a good way to try to help global bee populations recover.
He urged the US and Australian governments to follow suit.
"This is a crisis of epic proportions, and we need lawmakers to make laws so that we can protect our only home," he said.
"Bees are our modern-day canaries in the coal mine. In excess of 336,000 types of plants are pollinated by bees, and the bees contributed to 75 per cent of our food crops.
"We need to make some very serious changes in the next five or six years, because we can't lose these bees."
The Australian Pesticides and Veterinary Medicines Authority, which regulates agricultural and veterinary chemical products in Australia, has been monitoring the European decision on neonicotinoids.
It has no plans to implement a similar ban in Australia at this stage, but said on its website it will "continue to monitor and assess new information and credible scientific reports as they become available".
It also said the problem of declining bee populations in Europe is a "complex issue" that involves "the interaction of many factors in addition to pesticide use, such as nutrition, environment and disease, that are not of concern to Australia's bee population".
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2018-06-25/bees-are-dying-are-we-next/9904464
Since 2013, bee populations in some parts of the world have fallen by a third, with phenomena ranging from the spread of the varroa mite to climate change identified for blame.
In Australia, researchers and authorities say local bee populations remain resilient, but in Europe, Asia, North America and even New Zealand, it is a different story.
In a widely-shared post on Facebook that has inspired hashtag #savethebees, the Attenborough fan page warned the disappearance of bees would spell the end of humanity within four years.
"If bees were to disappear from the face of the earth, humans would have just four years left to live," it said.
"If you find a tired bee in your home, a simple solution of sugar and water will help revive an exhausted bee.
"Simply mix two tablespoons of white, granulated sugar with one tablespoon of water, and place on a spoon for the bee to reach."
Plant plants, avoid pesticides
In Australia, amateur beekeepers say the suggestion about sugar water to help bees in distress is sound.
The best things Australians can do to support bees are to plant flowering plants in their gardens, and to support bee colonies when they are swarming in search of a hive, the Amateur Beekeepers Association's Nathan Organ told the ABC's daily podcast The Signal.
"The suburbs are a great place for bees, and that's where backyard gardeners are important, in terms of their use of pesticides and that sort of stuff," he told The Signal.
"If our urban gardens are pesticide free, then our urban honey will have fewer pesticides in it, and the bees will benefit.
"The best thing Australians can do is to plant plants — not necessarily native plants, but plants that the bees love — so typically, blues, yellows and oranges — they're the favourite colours of bees."
The reasons behind the progressive disappearance of bees in most other countries are complex, but bee enthusiast and eco-stress physiologist Dr Reese Halter said the use of neonicotinoids on crops, rising average temperatures globally and the spread of the varroa mite — which causes deformed wing virus in bees — were the principal causes.
Dr Halter said a decision by the European Union to phase out the use of neonicotinoids in all cases except in greenhouses by the end of this year was a good way to try to help global bee populations recover.
He urged the US and Australian governments to follow suit.
"This is a crisis of epic proportions, and we need lawmakers to make laws so that we can protect our only home," he said.
"Bees are our modern-day canaries in the coal mine. In excess of 336,000 types of plants are pollinated by bees, and the bees contributed to 75 per cent of our food crops.
"We need to make some very serious changes in the next five or six years, because we can't lose these bees."
The Australian Pesticides and Veterinary Medicines Authority, which regulates agricultural and veterinary chemical products in Australia, has been monitoring the European decision on neonicotinoids.
It has no plans to implement a similar ban in Australia at this stage, but said on its website it will "continue to monitor and assess new information and credible scientific reports as they become available".
It also said the problem of declining bee populations in Europe is a "complex issue" that involves "the interaction of many factors in addition to pesticide use, such as nutrition, environment and disease, that are not of concern to Australia's bee population".
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2018-06-25/bees-are-dying-are-we-next/9904464
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