Imagine if a segment of the population devoted to agriculture began to slowly disappear. That over time, those that we depend on not only for the production of our food but also as a significant form of revenue, begin to quietly dwindle away and it is not noticed until it is too late. Though that premise may sound far-fetched, it is just one possible conclusion if the current decline in the honeybee population continues, as $15 billion a year in agriculture depends on the health of the honeybee and one-third of the human diet is derived from insect-pollinated plants (Shock, 2015). This disappearance of adult bees from their colonies has become so large it has received the term Colony Collapse Disorder (CCD). Though much research has been done
…show more content…
The Apocephalus Borea, for instance, is a parasitic fly that lays eggs inside the abdomen of honeybees. Once the eggs are planted, they then incubate in the abdomen of the honeybee over the course of several days, eventually driving the honeybee to leave the hive at night, where it continues to fly around disoriented until it dies as the fly pupae crawl out of its neck (“Buzzkiller”, 2012). Insects also contribute to massive losses of the honeybee population through the spread of viruses, as is the case with the Varroa mite. Along with the spread of many other viruses, Varroa mites are mainly responsible for the spread of the Deformed Wing Virus, which is the leading factor in the loss of honeybee colonies during winters in Europe (Lattorff, Buchholz, Fries, & Moritz (2015). The viruses spread to honeybees by the Varroa mite have been considered potential factors in the cause of CCD and although it is the disappearance of adults which occurs in CCD, this disappearance also plays a large factor in the elimination of the honeybees young. With the massive vanishing of adult honeybees due to CCD, many honeybees are then forced to forage at a younger age, which then raises their risk of death (Ecology: Bee Behavior Sees Colonies Collapse, 2015). When the importance of the honeybee and the numerous amount of threats facing its …show more content…
There is the fact that even though Europe and the United States are experiencing a significant decline in the honeybee population, over the past 50 years, there has been a considerable global trend in colony increase of more than 60% (Moritz & Earler, 2016). There is also the argument that the current decline in the honeybee population can be attributed more towards the honey trade rather than any pesticide, virus, or parasite. That a global honey market with lower honey prices in exporting countries discourages professional beekeepers in importing countries from using their own colonies to produce honey. With such low costs importing, the countries that are suffering the most considerable colony declines are those where the focus is placed on importing rather than production (Moritz & Earler, 2016). These are fair points but they do not change the fact that if the decline of the honeybee population in Europe and the United States continues to increase, it can have serious ecological and financial
The Apocephalus Borea, for instance, is a parasitic fly that lays eggs inside the abdomen of honeybees. Once the eggs are planted, they then incubate in the abdomen of the honeybee over the course of several days, eventually driving the honeybee to leave the hive at night, where it continues to fly around disoriented until it dies as the fly pupae crawl out of its neck (“Buzzkiller”, 2012). Insects also contribute to massive losses of the honeybee population through the spread of viruses, as is the case with the Varroa mite. Along with the spread of many other viruses, Varroa mites are mainly responsible for the spread of the Deformed Wing Virus, which is the leading factor in the loss of honeybee colonies during winters in Europe (Lattorff, Buchholz, Fries, & Moritz (2015). The viruses spread to honeybees by the Varroa mite have been considered potential factors in the cause of CCD and although it is the disappearance of adults which occurs in CCD, this disappearance also plays a large factor in the elimination of the honeybees young. With the massive vanishing of adult honeybees due to CCD, many honeybees are then forced to forage at a younger age, which then raises their risk of death (Ecology: Bee Behavior Sees Colonies Collapse, 2015). When the importance of the honeybee and the numerous amount of threats facing its …show more content…
There is the fact that even though Europe and the United States are experiencing a significant decline in the honeybee population, over the past 50 years, there has been a considerable global trend in colony increase of more than 60% (Moritz & Earler, 2016). There is also the argument that the current decline in the honeybee population can be attributed more towards the honey trade rather than any pesticide, virus, or parasite. That a global honey market with lower honey prices in exporting countries discourages professional beekeepers in importing countries from using their own colonies to produce honey. With such low costs importing, the countries that are suffering the most considerable colony declines are those where the focus is placed on importing rather than production (Moritz & Earler, 2016). These are fair points but they do not change the fact that if the decline of the honeybee population in Europe and the United States continues to increase, it can have serious ecological and financial