Where did the honeybees go?

Question

Where did the honeybees go?

Answer 1

I don't know... but I've cut the cell time down quite a bit... what have you done?

Answer 2

Speculation I have heard is that they just fly away from the hive and die of starvation or exposure. Nobody knows why yet.

Answer 3

Just FYI, the honey bees we are concerned about (Apis melifera) are not native to north america.  They are native to Europe.

My apiologist friend thinks Fungus or a virus are most likely, as the hives which have "collapsed" aren't being robbed by neighboring hives.  Bees will usually rob other bee's nests if they are left undefended.  When the drones are leaving the hive and not returning, they are leaving honey and wax behind.  But for some reason, bees from other hives aren't going into the affected hives to steal wax and honey.

Answer 4

We will never know.

Answer 5

Most of them seem to be in my back yard ... You want some ?

Answer 6

Three possible areas to explore:

1.  fungus

2. virus

3. pesticide

more information to follow

Answer 7

Hard to say. Could be lots of reasons. Pollution is very likely.

In California, wine vineyards may be to blame. The native honey bees are not strong enough to fly across the entire vineyard. They are forced to land on some vines that are covered in pesticides. Many non-native bees can make it across the entire length.

Vineyards should put in "islands" that are full of wild plants and no pesticides or herbicides.

We should only buy organic wine.

I am intrigued by the cell phone possibility. If that turns out to be a true factor. I am going to give my phone up.

Bees are extremely important!

Answer 8

OK now here's the straight dope:

Global Warming has caused the Queen Bees to have heat flashes more often, thus discouraging the male bees from wanting to mate with her.  As a result they've turned to homosexuality and bee AIDS has broken out even more rapidly in the insect world than it did in the flower arranging and hairdressing industries.

You heard it here first.

Answer 9

Another reason may be mite infestation as well in some areas.