Honey Bees Population Decline
When you look at the bees population in the U.S. from the past and compare it to now, It is very obvious there is a problem. In recent years the bee population has been declining somewhat rapidly do to an unknown cause. It is very obvious that bees play an important role in the ecosystem and for humans. Honey bees help the process of pollination. This process happens when a Honey Bee lands on a flower and transmits pollen grains (Male) to the stigma (Female) inside the flower. This happens everytime a bee lands on a flower. This process is more important than ever, due to the growing population of the earth and United States. The body of honeys bees make them excellent pollinators. Their fuzzy hair traps pollen, making them much more efficient
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Something called Colony Collapse Disorder is the reason millions of hives have been disappearing. Scientist have narrowed it down to three different culprits. The first one being Acarapis Woodi. These are microscopic parasites that invade the bees body. They specifically the trachea, or the breathing tube of the Bees. Here they lay their eggs and feed off of the bees bodily fluids. This weakens the bees body, eventually causing death. Varroa Destructor is a species of mite, only able to reproduce in in a beehive. The process begins with the infiltration of a honeycomb cell and lays its eggs on the honey bee larvae. This happens right about when the bee is ready to pupate, and just before one of the worker bees closes off the cell. The eggs proceed to hatch and the babys and mother mites feed on the bee in the safety of the cell. The bee is not normally killed at this point but is weakened, so it still has enough strength to get out of the cell. As the bee chews its way through and out, the mites follow with them. They then spread throughout the beehive, repeating the process over again. This process can take place all in about 10 days. After 2-3 months the colony collapses. The mites can also transmit viruses that kill the bees. Some of these viruses such as Deformed Wing Virus create birth defects such as useless wings. Fungus and viruses are a threat to bees as well, but under normal circumstances this would not be enough to kill this many bees this fast. Pesticides, specifically Neonicotinoids; are the world's most used insecticide. These chemicals can destroy a bee's nervous system and are used as a replacement for DDT. Bees absorb the chemical while out exploring, collecting pollen, or contaminated water. It is then brought into the colony and eventually comes into contact with all the bees. There are some very horrific consequences once contact is made, bees develop
Something called Colony Collapse Disorder is the reason millions of hives have been disappearing. Scientist have narrowed it down to three different culprits. The first one being Acarapis Woodi. These are microscopic parasites that invade the bees body. They specifically the trachea, or the breathing tube of the Bees. Here they lay their eggs and feed off of the bees bodily fluids. This weakens the bees body, eventually causing death. Varroa Destructor is a species of mite, only able to reproduce in in a beehive. The process begins with the infiltration of a honeycomb cell and lays its eggs on the honey bee larvae. This happens right about when the bee is ready to pupate, and just before one of the worker bees closes off the cell. The eggs proceed to hatch and the babys and mother mites feed on the bee in the safety of the cell. The bee is not normally killed at this point but is weakened, so it still has enough strength to get out of the cell. As the bee chews its way through and out, the mites follow with them. They then spread throughout the beehive, repeating the process over again. This process can take place all in about 10 days. After 2-3 months the colony collapses. The mites can also transmit viruses that kill the bees. Some of these viruses such as Deformed Wing Virus create birth defects such as useless wings. Fungus and viruses are a threat to bees as well, but under normal circumstances this would not be enough to kill this many bees this fast. Pesticides, specifically Neonicotinoids; are the world's most used insecticide. These chemicals can destroy a bee's nervous system and are used as a replacement for DDT. Bees absorb the chemical while out exploring, collecting pollen, or contaminated water. It is then brought into the colony and eventually comes into contact with all the bees. There are some very horrific consequences once contact is made, bees develop