I’m sure you’ve heard that the honeybee populations are declining. This is scary because most of our food depends on bees for pollination. They are actually responsible for pollinating over a third of our food. So, it is pretty daunting to think about them vanishing as human populations continue to grow. There are many theories: death dues to pesticide use, disease, hive fungus, mites, and bees getting lost due to too many signals interfering with their innate navigation. You see bees fly by magnetic navigation. Humans are building and using cell phone towers, wireless communication, air flights, and radio towers that are now closer together, making signals stronger, which may cause the bees to become ‘lost’ and lose their hives. Another theory is high fructose corn syrup (HFCS). Commercial beekeepers have been stealing the bees’ honey and then feeding them HFCS. They feed bees HFCS instead of honey for the same reason that commercial food manufacturers feed it to us: it’s cheaper. Perhaps, the bees actually need their honey to keep their systems healthy so they can fight off toxins (pesticides) and diseases – just a thought.
No one really knows, exactly what is happening but there are certainly a lot of theories. In fact, it is probably all of the above and that is the problem. Nevertheless, I know the real truth – they have decided to take up residence in our old Pitch Pine tree. Have you ever seen bees living in a tree? It’s like seeing someone grind their own grains manually – you just don’t see it much anymore. The first time I saw it was in California. We knew the tree was their home since there were so many bees flying in and out of the gigantic Willow tree. But it was nothing like what we have at our current home. The honeybees just love our old Pitch Pine tree. On a nice summer day, there appear to be millions hanging out around the entrance of their home. Sometimes you can hear their hum from over 1000 feet away.
Our Bee Tree
Don’t worry they don’t bother us. They are too busy collecting pollen to bother with us. Our flowers and fruit trees love them.
I know where all the bees have gone – our old Pitch Pine.
Our old Pitch Pine tree
It’s pretty amazing to live so close to a large, natural bee hive like this. I work very closely with bees and beekeepers every year. It is so sad to see the decline of an industry especially when the EPA, DEC, and chemical manufacturers not just fail but refuse to do anything meaningful about the problem. The economic value of pollination is probably beyond calculation (there are many side benefits); but it is really the value that bees have for our environment and our health that is the hardest to accept. We DO NOT know what the real value of biodiversity is…even for many well-known and seemingly endangered species like the honeybee. Not only do we need to back off on the use of technologies that seemingly impact the bee’s ability to survive, especially when it seems there may have synergistic effects. Enjoy the bees as they are amazing to watch; mesmerizing even. But also be aware that unless we change our actions as a society, they could be gone some day. Bbbbbbzzzzzzzzzzz……..
by ‘hardest to accept’ I mean hardest to accept the damage industry and society is unwilling to acknowledge much less abate.
Debbie,
Thank you so much for sharing your knowledge and mother-nature with us. Every time I read your post I feel closure to her. You take such beautiful pictures with your new camera.
I have an ant problem, and my mother told me to use Cinnamon to abate them. Are there any other remedies? What about keeping bugs away from my front door entry way, outside?
Thanks again!
Love,
Heidi
Hi Heidi,
I am so happy you are enjoying my blog. I use a simply recipe of borax, sugar and water to keep the ants away. Here’s the blog where I wrote about it. I hope it helps. Please let me know.
Peace,
Debbie
https://www.knowyouroots.com/ijustgottashare/2013/04/25/our-spring-visitors/