Are the honey bees really being wiped out?

Question

or is it just a coinscidence that its in Doctor Who and the film The Happening?

Answer 1

There is "last article I read on the subject" an unknown cause killing a high percentage of the hives on certain farms. Wiped out is over stating the problem but it could come to that.

Answer 2

Yes they are from what I've heard!!

Answer 3

What I have heard is that with the technology we have with cell phones and what not, bees are getting disoriented in their flights, etc.  I know that there are a lot more bumblebees now for some reason.

Answer 4

It's time to learn the difference beetween doctor whio and the real world

Answer 5

Yes, it's true.  There is a disease they are getting, and because no-one is sure what the disease is or where it came from, they don't know how to stop it.  They are working very hard to stop it though! Because at the minute, millions have died.

Answer 6

Yes because of the africanized bees and hornets. 10 hornets are a sufficient force for 10,000 bees due to their larger size, more aggressive nature, ability to sting unlimited time and release toxins and also their armour which is stronger then a bees shell. Honey bees are also being wiped out due to other introduced species and more habitat loss and human control.

Answer 7

Wiped out might not be the best word but yes, they are dying off in droves.  In many areas up to 50% of the hives are abandoned, dead.  In a few areas the percent is even higher.  It is happening in North American and in Europe and it is thought that it is starting to happen in Central America.

So far no theory of why is accepted.  Proposed ideas are fungi (a common problem), pollution in some vague way, pesticides and insecticides, especially residuals, and surging use of radio waves being used in cell phones, GPS and transmission lines and so on.  THe only agreement is that for most of us ist will be a disaster, the vast majority of what we eat comes from plants pollinated by bees.

Answer 8

They are up against a series of pests at the moment. The biggest threat at the moment is varroa mite and although this can be controlled it is now believed to bring with it into the hive various viruses which are far more difficult to control.

There is an increase in the frequency of something called colony collapse disorder CCD which can be likened to the Mary Celeste - stores a plenty in the hive but all the bees having disappeared - not even dead ones. Research has identified a virus present in such hives but it has still to be categorically blaimed for this CCD. This virus, Israeli Acute Paralysis Virus.

Answer 9

Yes. Mostly due to the spread of Hornets and African honey bees.

Answer 10

Yes they are in decline