Disappearing bees

[batwing]

Mainly a problem in America at the moment but signs of the same in Europe now. Interestingly, a mobile phone sales company reports that it me be caused be phone masts but other reports say the reason is not known.

Could mobile phones be killing millions of bees

There are many reports if you google news 'Disappearing bees' .

[Kymba]

There was an item on the news today about Mobile Phones killing the Honey Bee and that they could become an indangered species within 4 years.
Apparently every time you use a mobile phone the signal you send Kills a Honey Bee!! ( I don't know how true this is)

[eeyore]

Originally Posted by Kymba

Apparently every time you use a mobile phone the signal you send Kills a Honey Bee!! ( I don't know how true this is)

sounds like somthing of an exageration to me - if the article batwing put up is correct the radiation isnt killing them per se just causing them to get lost and thus the colony to colapse - however various other causes have also be suggested for CCD including fungal infection, misuse of OP pesticide in feeding areas, and air polution.

[Kymba]

Would us planting more Plants and flowers to attract them help to keep numbers on the up ???

[brainfarmer]

i think this is another sensationalist report that appeals to the technophobe and luddite. ive always been under the impression that honey bees use the sun for orientation between hive and food source and thats the purpose of the 'waggle dance'.
it would seem strange that mobile phones and the masts would affect bees when seemingly high voltage electricity cables dont. im not saying it isnt a possibility just i think its unlikely.
whatever the truth i dont posses a mobile phone so i can feel smug.

[eeyore]

Originally Posted by brainfarmer

i think this is another sensationalist report that appeals to the technophobe and luddite. ive always been under the impression that honey bees use the sun for orientation between hive and food source and thats the purpose of the 'waggle dance'.
it would seem strange that mobile phones and the masts would affect bees when seemingly high voltage electricity cables dont. im not saying it isnt a possibility just i think its unlikely.
whatever the truth i dont posses a mobile phone so i can feel smug.

I think you are probably right - there are far higher sources of electromagnetic radiation in the environment than phone masts. It is just a handy thing to blame CCD on particularly if you want to take the focus off agri chemicals or air polution.

however whatever the cause CCD is indisputably happening and until the cause is nailed down it will be difficult to prevent - by all means plant bee food plants as these are a good idea in any case and a greater food source may help suport a falling population but this will only be a mitigation measure not a cure for the problem

[brainfarmer]

there must be a member on here who keeps bees be interesting to here from them.
i tend to think that certainly in the uk we spray less than we did, gm crops are not widely grown so it could be the effect of monoculture where vasts areas are given over to a particular crop leaving bees with a very short feeding window. its interesting that various uk websites are seeing a big decline in numbers of bumble bees i dont know if the 2 things are connected.

[eeyore]

I think eucera is our resident bee expert - we will no doubt be hearing from him sooner or later

just looking on the net i also found another problem for bees - apparently the Asian Hornet, Vespa velutina is now present in the south of france having been brought from china in a consignment of pottery and can "go through 30,000 bees in a couple of hours" looking for food for its young - this is not good news me thinks

[brainfarmer]

YouTube - Giant Hornets vs Bees in white hive
a short clip of giant hornets in action against honey bees.

[eeyore]

Originally Posted by brainfarmer

YouTube - Giant Hornets vs Bees in white hive
a short clip of giant hornets in action against honey bees.

ooofff - its a good thing those things are smaller than us or we would soooo be in trouble

one thing that seemed odd to me is that the bees are really fighting back , there arent that many hornets so if the bees swarmed and went for them enmasse they could take them out - instead of which they are just crawling about getting eaten one be one