U.S. beekeepers lost 40 percent of bees in 2014-15

[Svartalf]

arf, or the losses woll continue anabated till only tiny bee populations, insufficient for the planet's pollination needs remain... in some areas they already bring domestic colonies because there are no wild bees anymore.

[pErvinalia]

We can pollinate our crops with money. No problemo.

[Svartalf]

sure, but bees are a lot more efficient than human workers or machines.

[laklak]

nanodrones.

[Svartalf]

yeah, right, when we have sexbots and flying cars.

[mistermack]

It's ludicrous to be blaming glyphosphate for bee decline, without overwhelming evidence.

When there are so many more likely culprits, why on earth would anyone give credence to some highly dubious claims about a herbicide?

I have an allotment, and my neighbour has seven or eight hives now on his. Last year, he had the best year for honey he has ever had. And he has seen no sign of the varroa mite.
But I use Roundup every year on the allotment, and so do lots of others. And there are farm fields around growing planted crops, and they are definitely using roundup, like all arable farms.

There's no mystery. The varroa mite makes the difference. Both in their parasitism, and in the chemicals used to control them.

All the rest of it might contribute a bit, once the mite has done the damage.

[laklak]

But but but but Monsanto! GMOs! Polar Bears! The Patriarchy!

Don't go confusing the issues with facts, MM.

[klr]

Am I the only one who misread the title as U.S. Bookeepers?

After all, accountants can hide anything on a balance sheet.

[rainbow]

But but but but Monsanto! GMOs! Polar Bears! The Patriarchy!

Don't go confusing the issues with facts, MM.

Just import some African bees.

They will of course eat all your limp-wristed North American bees, but you'll still get honey.

http://video.nationalgeographic.com/video/killer_bee

[Tero]

Bayer turns science denier:
Bayer, a prominent maker of neonicotinoids, has previously questioned scientific research suggesting the chemicals have harmful impacts on bees.

"While we haven't yet had the opportunity to review [this] full study, it appears to confirm what is already known about neonicotinoids and bees: Exposures to higher doses can cause differences in bee behavior, whereas lower doses are well tolerated by bees," the company said in an emailed statement. It did not specify what it views as "higher" or "lower" doses.
https://www.npr.org/2018/11/09/66563436 ... nsecticide

[laklak]

We got bees, a fucking shitton of them, little fuckers are everywhere. They're not a problem, it's the goddamn ground hornets. They live in burrows in the yard, twice now I've caught them between my foot and flip flop while walking and they sting the shit out of me. Swells up and hurts for like 12 hours. I hates them.

[Tero]

Ah, Florida.

In the rest of the US we have pesticides. And winter. In Florida it’s only a matter of time it returns to swamp.

[laklak]

You ain't wrong there. We can't use pesticides or nitrogen or phosphorus fertilizers on the lawn from June to October, too much rain, it pollutes the bay. But it's winter now, so watch out, bugs and weed, I'm gunnin' for ya.

[rainbow]

As for glyphosate, I already know from many reports that it's indeed tied to bee mortality, and a bad thing.

Publish, or be damned.

[rainbow]

Bayer turns science denier:
Bayer, a prominent maker of neonicotinoids, has previously questioned scientific research suggesting the chemicals have harmful impacts on bees.

Glyphosate isn't a neonicotinoid.