Honeybee Threats Pt 2
From the Ag Information Network, this is today’s Fruit Grower Report. Honeybee colonies have been dying off at a faster rate in recent years and many blame the pesticides used by farmers.
Todd Myers, Vice President of Research at the Washington Policy Center, believes that beyond those ignorant or political accusations, there are real reasons …
MYERS … “One, this is not to say that pesticides don’t have an impact on bees and can’t kill bees. They do, but the USDA does surveys every year and they find, they ask, you know, beekeepers why did your hives die?” And pesticides is not zero, but it’s down on the list.”
Besides, Myers says they’d just be shooting themselves in the foot …
MYERS … “The thing is, is that orchardists, who rely on bees are very careful because the last thing they want to do is to kill all the pollinators who are helping them create their crop.”
Myers says hobbyists, like him, and gardeners are probably a bigger threat …
MYERS … “But, you know, it’s farmers who are the ones who get accused of using the pesticides that kill bees, when in fact it’s the farmers who are probably the most careful and most knowledgeable about how not to kill bees.”
Bottom line …
MYERS … “What is killing bees, and if you talk to any beekeeper, you ask them, what’s the number one thing that’s killing your bees, they will all give you the exact same answer and that is a mite called the Varroa mite, which is an invasive mite from Southeast Asia.”
Myers says Varroa mites are aptly named “Destructors” that destroy hives, but they can be managed, until someone figures out how to get rid of the mites.
