This issue needs resolving, planet conservation in all areas...

JWPearl

rgambs

The bee extinction hype is a little overwrought.

It is mainly commercial honeybee populations that are suffering collapse, and honeybees get too much credit anyways. There are a heck of a lot more pollinators than just bees. Commercial fruit crops like almonds, cherries, berries, etc are only sustainable with large honeybee colonies, but most staple crops (grains, starches) are pollinated by wind.

RiotZact

There were no bees in North America until we brought them here. So yes we would lose many different things but I don't think it would quite look like that top picture.

In many ways they are their own worst enemy. My girlfriend is a beekeeper and does everything by the books, has spent thousands of dollars on her bees, yet in the past 2 weeks 2 of her hives have decided to swarm, which will almost certainly result in their death this winter. It's so difficult to figure out why they would swarm and what to do to prevent it, I've never seen such a sensitive animal.

catefrances

I used to see bees in my yard all the time. for the past few years I haven't seen any. I prefer to think their hive has been moved rather than the alternative.

brianlux

RiotZact said:

There were no bees in North America until we brought them here. So yes we would lose many different things but I don't think it would quite look like that top picture.

In many ways they are their own worst enemy. My girlfriend is a beekeeper and does everything by the books, has spent thousands of dollars on her bees, yet in the past 2 weeks 2 of her hives have decided to swarm, which will almost certainly result in their death this winter. It's so difficult to figure out why they would swarm and what to do to prevent it, I've never seen such a sensitive animal.

Exactly! I was a bit freaked out by the bee die off thing until I had read how native bees are not at all honey bees. I even got to thinking the bee die off might be a good indicator of Mother Nature saying, "Oh yeah, you humans sure know what your about don't you?" haha

We could learn a lot from this kind of thing and maybe find a way to go with natures flow. Masanobu Fukuoka comes to mind. His philosophy was so simple, direct, respectful, aligned with the seasons, the elements, the natural and ubiquitous pulse and rhythms that are everywhere, in everything. It could all be so simple. I wish I knew how to be there.

pjalive21

picture was a little drastic to say the least but never let a good meme go to waste

green mountain man

In my pasture there were various types of bees in abundance from 2001-2012. I would see about 10 in a square yard. During the years 2013-2015 I was lucky to find a single bee. This summer they are back again in great numbers.