For discussion on 3 May 07.
Almost 25% of all the bees in the US are gone. Some thing causes the bees to get lost. They do not return to their home hive and they die. Many tens of billions of bees are lost. Twenty-seven US states report this problem. In 13 of those states, bee keepers lost one-half of their bees. Europe and South America also have this problem. No one knows why the bees get lost.
This is a big problem for farmers. Farmers need bees to pollinate their plants. Bees fly from plant to plant carrying pollen on their bodies. Pollen from one plant fertilizes another plant. If there are no bees, fewer plants get pollen and less food is produced. This is a very serious problem for the US food supply.
Scientists from the US Department of Agriculture are studying the problem. There are many different possible reasons. The scientists are looking at dead bees to find out why they died. Natural enemies of bees do not seem to be the problem. Genetically modified crops do not seem to be at fault. The fact that bees are moved from place to place across the US is not a problem either.
Some scientists have found a fungus that hurts the bee‘s immune system, much like AIDS affects people’s immune system. Other scientists are testing 117 chemicals used by farmers to see if they are a problem. Other groups of scientists are looking at the DNA of the dead bees to see if it is changed. The DNA tests showed several unknown small organisms in the bees. An experiment where bee houses were cleaned with radiation produced good results. The radiation may have killed the unknown small organisms.
Bug sprays used on plants, called ‘pesticides‘, are being studied closely. One chemical, much used in Europe and the US, is a possible problem. It is used to protect plant seeds, lawns, golf courses and houses from certain bugs. This chemical does cause bees to get lost. France does not allow this chemical to be used. France is still losing bees.
This research is very important and scientists hope to have some answers by July of 2007.
Your Opinion Please
Do you have many bees in your garden? What flowers and plants do they like most?
Have you ever owned bees and made honey for your family? Do you know anyone who does?
What do you think is causing the bees to get lost?
Vocabulary Words
bee: small insects that make honey
bees: small insects that make honey
bugs: insects
closely: very close
fertilizes: create a new plant or animal
fungus: disease
golf: a game played on grass
hive: home of the bee
immune: resist illness
lawns: grass
modified: changed
organisms: very small animals like germs
pesticides: chemicals that kill animals
pollen: dust that makes flowers grow
pollinate: give pollen to a flower
radiation: waves like X-Rays
sprays: very small water drops
