Disappearing Bees:
How to Help Slow, or Stop, Missing Bees

To slow the issue of disappearing bees, it is necessary to focus on natural and organic farming methods such as crop rotation. Increasing crop diversity on farms will help increased bee populations.

Additionally, planting of woodlots or bushes, landscaping, water attractions (such as ponds) to attract bees is necessary. Farming organically - without the use of pesticides - and planning your farm or garden with the goal of attracting bees is key to solving the problem of disappearing bees.

There is also a concern that cell phones and cell phone transmissions are hurting bees. To-date this concern, raised by environmentalists and a number of scientists, is still unproven. Nevertheless, when planting your garden or your crops or orchards try to find out where the wireless technology systems are set up in your area and, if at all possible, try to arrange your plantings appropriately.

What is proven is that the weakened bees colonies (weakened through urbanization and large industrial farming practices, including heavy use of pesticides and intensive farming policies) are an easy target for the Varroa mite - a tiny Asian mite that sucks the juices out of European honeybees, crippling and then wiping out entire colonies.

Weakened bees are also an easy target for the Tracheal mite – a mite that lives in the breathing tubes of adult honey bees where they feed on bee blood. These mites attack all types of bees. Researchers are saying that these mites have helped reduce bee numbers by nearly 30 percent over the last 25 years.

Missing Bees Issue Can Be Turned Around:

• Grow organically. No pesticides. Test soil ph. Compost. Add worms. Develop a natural healthy bee habitat that will lead to healthier bees and that will be more resistant overall.
• Control mite issues organically; there have been successful mite control efforts using natural essential oils and, in severe cases of mite infestation, a 50% formic acid fumigation (the use of natural and organic products).
• Increase crop diversity.
• Planting more flowering trees, bushes, plants to provide a stronger nectar and pollen source during the growing season. This should occur in both rural and urban areas.
• Consider bee habitats - where do they build hives - and encourage hive building by adding fences, trees and shrubs. Badly eroded areas should be replanted with native flowering shrubs or trees.
• Build water features and/or waterways - bees need water sources.
• Minimize interference and impact on the bee life cycle.

The goal is to increase bee populations and to increase the health of bee populations so that they are more resistant to mites, and other attacks on bees.

All bees are pollinators but some, such as the honey bee are better at their job than others.

Bees are under attack by their environment. But we cannot simply sit by and let them grow extinct. In the United States, the National Honey Board reports that about one third of the Americans' food supply is dependent on bees' pollination. That is significant.

Governments around the world need to track the bee life cycle and causes for missing bees. Then the world needs to work on finding and implementing remedies that work in balance with the environment.

An Example of How A City is Responding
to the Disappearing Bees Issue:

In Vancouver, Canada, a volunteer organization named Environmental Youth Alliance has launched a $90,000 project to increase the bee population in the city. The organization build over 150 bee condos over the last two years.

The first 100 mason-bee condos were distributed last year to homeowners for placement in their backyards. Each condo housed a colony of 36 bees.

The homeowners were required to garden organically (including no pesticides) and to ensure that their garden was planted with an abundance of flowering plants and fruit trees that were pollen rich and bee-friendly.

Additionally the homeowners committed to monitoring the colony and report on how the bees are doing. They also are required to report on how many of the condo ‘units’ are filled.

This urban apiary project involved city youth to build the condos and was a project to create awareness of the globally declining bee population.

This year, the organization placed 8000 bees in 53 condos (50 large size condos with a colony size of 72 bees each and 3 extra large condos with a colony size of 720 bees each) in parks and public areas around the city of Vancouver. The hope is that these bees will reproduce and colonize.

For more on disappearing bees, types of bees (particularly the honey bee), how bees make honey and why honey is so good for us, please visit Missing Bees and Types of Bees - the Honey Bee.

Read More:

Visit What is Soil?

Or visit What do Worms Eat?

Or visit Organic Food Site-Map.

Or return from Disappearing Bees to Test Soil pH.