Study Finds Mixed News About Bee Populations

There’s a glimmer of hope for the American bee population. But, according to a new study, the outlook for this critical insect is mostly grim. Researchers report a slowing of the rate of decline in the bee population over the past year, dropping to its lowest since 2011-2012.

A new study shows that while American bee populations are still falling, they may have slowed. Image credit: Gh. Mănoiu / The Titi Tudorancea Bulletin

But, both commercial and small-scale beekeepers lost 33 percent of their honey bee colonies between April 2016 and April 2017.

"While it is encouraging that losses are lower than in the past, I would stop short of calling this 'good' news," said Dennis van Engelsdorp, an assistant professor of entomology at the University of Maryland and project director for the Bee Informed Partnership, in a summary of the study.

"Colony loss of more than 30 percent over the entire year is high," he added. "It's hard to imagine any other agricultural sector being able to stay in business with such consistently high losses."

Researchers point to many causes for the drop in bee populations, with parasites, particularly the varroa mite, and other diseases as the main culprits. Pesticides are also a factor, according to the study, particularly among commercial beekeepers. The researchers describes like a kind of synergy among all the causes that amount to worsening each individual problem.

"This is a complex problem," said Kelly Kulhanek, a graduate student in the UMD Department of Entomology who helped with the survey. "Lower losses are a great start, but it's important to remember that 33 percent is still much higher than beekeepers deem acceptable. There is still much work to do."

The annual survey, which has been conducted for 11 years, aims to find why bee colonies are suffering, a problem that can have big consequences for human beings, given that honey bees pollinate $15 billion worth of U.S. agriculture annually. Almonds, researchers say are a perfect example: their growth is entirely dependent on bees for pollination.

"Bees are good indicators of the health of the landscape as a whole," said Nathalie Steinhauer, a graduate student in the UMD Department of Entomology who leads the data collection efforts for the annual survey. "Honey bees are strongly affected by the quality of their environment, including flower diversity, contaminants and pests....Honey bee health is a community matter." (VOA)

YOU MAY ALSO LIKE

World's Fastest Film Camera

A research group has developed a camera that can film at a rate equivalent to five trillion images per second, or events as short as 0.2 trillionths of a second. This is faster than has previously been possible.

How Our Memory Works

Our memory reflects our last retrieval of it rather than an exact account of the original event. When long-term memories are recalled, they become fragile and changeable. New proteins must be produced to reconsolidate retrieved memories and return them to long-term storage in the brain.

3-D gel-nanoparticle device detoxifies blood

Researchers developed a liver-inspired 3-D device made of hydrogel and nanoparticles that can remove toxins from blood. Designed for use outside the body, the device provides a proof-of-concept model for new detoxification techniques.

Experimental Ebola antibody protects monkeys

A monoclonal antibody derived from a person who survived Ebola virus disease protected non-human primates when given as late as 5 days after Ebola infection.

Peanut Consumption in Infancy Lowers Peanut Allergy

A food allergy occurs when the immune system reacts to a harmless food as if it were a threat. Symptoms can range from upset stomach and diarrhea, to hives and itching, to tightening of the throat and trouble breathing. Peanuts are one of the most common foods that cause allergic reactions.

Satellite made by Brazilian junior high students launched in Japan

A satellite developed by junior high school children from Ubatuba, São Paulo state, was launched to the International Space Station (ISS) from Tanegashima Space Center, Japan, on Friday (Dec. 9).