Factors To A Declining Bee Population
The honey bee population of the United States of America is one the decline. In the past year, many bee farmers have noticed more and more abandoned bee hives compared to all other past years. Death of some of the bee population is to be expected during the winter season but there are actually not a lot of dead bee bodies found in the abandoned hives to warrant the season as one of the killers of some of the bee population in the Unite States of America.
The decline of the bee population of late has caused a major furor because many of the farmers who grow crops and other plants are mostly dependent on the honey bee population for the propagation of their crops and plants. The honey bee population of the United States is responsible for almost 80 % of the natural propagation of the country's crops and plants.
Pesticides
Many fingers are pointing at chemical pesticides as one of the culprits to the declining bee population in the United States. Pesticides affect all insects and pests that come into contact with it. Thus, even the potentially helpful insects are eliminated when farmers use chemical pesticides to control all forms of pests in their crops. Pesticides are needed by some farmers due to other potentially harmful insects that destroy crops yearly.
Disease Or Fungus
There are also reports of some disease or virus that may be responsible for the decline of the honey bee population in the United States. In the past decades, similar reports of a decline in the population have prompted experts and researchers to probe the reason. A fungus or virus has been identified to have affected some colonies of honey bees and have been spread by some of the infected bees being adopted into other hives.
Weather
The winter season has always affected the bee population. An especially harsh winter will have more drastic effects. The reason why some experts doubt the theory of harsh winters affecting the bee population drastically is that there are not a lot of dead bees in the hive during the winter season. Evidence that the cold has something to do with the bee population decline is not seen.
Experts are still confused and baffled regarding the abrupt decrease of the bee population in the United States and some parts of Canada and Europe. If this decline of the bee population shall continue, you can expect the bees to be gone for good.
