about bee survival Exact causes of mass bee losses are unknown; there are a mix of causes that sicken bees: >pesticides, insecticides, fungicides, acaricides >strain from being moved long distances by beekeepers to pollinate crops >sudden changes in time zone/climate >parasites leaving the bees vulnerable to bacteria and viruses >combinations of chemicals hurt the immune system making them more vulnerable to disease and threaten the entire colony, beginning with the honeybee >nutritionally inferior nectar and pollen of modified crops >lack of variety in plants and crops in the south - large monoculture plantings of unsuitable crops that don’t provide good nectar and pollen for bees: corn, soybean, cotten, canola >Colony Collapse Disorder (CCD): Bees that eat pollen contaminated with fungicides were 3 x’s as likely to be infected by a parasite linked to CCD 2/3 t h e r e w o u l d b e a l o s s o f $ 4 0 b i l l i o n i n U . S . a g r i c u l t u r a l e c o n o m y e a c h y e a r I f w e l o s e t h e b e e s w e l o s e t h e p l a n t s t h e y h e l p p o lli n a t e , a n d l o s e t h e a n i m a ls t h a t e a t t h o s e p l a n t s , a n d s o o n u p t h e f o o d c h a i n o f t h e f o o d w e e a t www.mnn.com guardianlv.com/2014/04/bees-becoming-extinct/ www.bbc.com/future/story/20140502-what-if-bees-went-extinct www.globalresearch.ca/death-and-extinction-of-the-bees/5375684 pla n ts t h a t b e e s l i k e : b l u e , p u r p l e , o r y e ll o w fl o w e r s ; c l ove rs, s a g e , s a l v i a , o r e g a n o , la v e n d e r , ironwee, yarrow, yellow hyss u p , a l f a l f a , h o n e y w o r t , d ra g onhead, ec h i n a c e a , b e e b a l m , b u t t e r c u p , g o l d e n r od, e nglish thym e; flowering trees ** e s p e c i a l l y a l f alfa and clover in the midwest- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - support local beekeepers - - - - - - - - - - --let y o u r v e g g i e s b o l t ( g o t o s e e d a f t e r h a r v e s t ) - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - e l i m i n a t e g ar d e n p e s t i c i d e s - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - p r o v i d e b e e h a b i t a t s Each summer, U.S. beekeepers truck hives to pasteurs in the upper midwest to gather nectar and pollen. In the spring, hives are brought back to the south to pollinate crops of most every fruit, vegetable, and nut we find in our supermarkets. Bees pollinate 70 of the 100 crop species that feed 90% of the world, and more than 100 types of crops in the U.S. alone. There are other insects, such as ants, that can pollinate crops but some plants can only be pollinated by bees. 1 out of every 3 bites of food are dependant on pollinators; bees are vital for the alfalfa and clover that feed cattle and without them, there would be less beef, milk, and cheese. 3 0% of the bee population disappears every year Why should we care i t w o u l d d i r e c t l y a f f e c t 30% brussel sprouts, c a b b a g e 40% strawberry 50% pear 70% apricot, plum and prune, watermelon 90% apple, asparagus, cherries, cucumber, pumpkin 100% almond, avocado, blueberry, broccoli, carrot, cauliflower, celery, onion 1 0 % bean, lettuce Crop types and their dependence on honeybees: