Bees – more than honey

Since a mite was introduced in the U.S. in 1985 honeybees have continued to be affected by colony collapse disorder. A few quick facts about bees:

There are more species of bees than any other insect.

While most people associate bees with honey, their real value is in pollination.

Last year, according to an informal survey of beekeepers in Washington state, 39 percent of the honeybee population was lost.

That’s a big number. That’s creeping up on half.

The recent large-scale loss of honeybees is known as colony collapse disorder (CCD), and occurs sporadically. Some beekeepers reported no loss last year; others reported a total loss. The cause is difficult to pinpoint.

Timothy Lawrence, who will take over as director of Island County WSU Extension programs on May 1, said a recent study identified 61 variables contributing to CCD.

One certainty, though, in spite of all the complications, is that the verroa mite, a tiny parasite, is a primary culprit in the decline of honeybees.

Lawrence said the mite was introduced about 1985, and “there’s no telling how it got here originally.”

Speculation ranges from container ships to smuggled bees. Once the mite was here though, it spread rapidly, Lawrence said, in part because beekeepers and their bees migrate extensively within the United States.

Many beekeepers use chemicals to control the mite, but Lawrence said that leads to its own problems.

Chemicals are classified as either “hard” or “soft.”

Soft chemicals, which are largely essential oils, are relatively harmless to the bees, but they are sensitive to temperature, require more frequent application, and are more expensive and time consuming to apply.

Hard chemicals are effective at first, but Lawrence said the mite is becoming resistant to many of them. Meanwhile, the bee’s wax absorbs and holds chemicals for long periods of time, which is ultimately harmful to the bees.

The combined results of the verroa mite, residual pesticides, viruses and bacteria have been devastating, leading to a huge shortage of bees.

And the shortage has larger consequences than simply increasing the price tag of honey on supermarket shelves.

What many people don’t realize, Lawrence said, is that beekeepers bring their colonies to orchards and plantations, where they are paid per colony for pollination. Right now, there’s a major concern about whether or not there are enough bees to pollinate almonds, and it’s driving prices up.

Most beekeepers charge somewhere in the neighborhood of $100 per colony, but it’s not unusual to see prices of $200 right now, while unconfirmed rumors of $400 are circulating, Lawrence said.

Onion and carrot seed growers are worried, too, although apples should be in pretty good shape, he added.

Fortunately, honeybees can recover quickly if given the chance, bringing the number of colonies back up, but it’s difficult times right now, especially in populated areas, Lawrence said.

“As people continue to populate and clear land, natural foliage is lost,” he explained. “This means less forage for bees when they’re not in orchards.”

Natural forage means pollen, and pollen means food, at least for bees. The brood, or larva, and nurse bees feed directly on pollen, while still more is converted to the nectar and honey that supply adult worker bees with much-needed carbohydrates.

Plants, then, are good for bees, and there are a few simple things backyard gardeners can do to help the bees.W

hile many people consider some kind of chemical treatment necessary, Lawrence said they should keep a few cautions in mind, because chemicals can inhibit bees’ ability to orient, disrupt their learning and weaken their immune systems.

Don’t spray near streams and other water sources.

Don’t spray during the middle of the day, or during a bloom.

Increase natural forage through the use of ground cover and bushes.

Finally, one of the simplest things, Lawrence said, is to “be cognizant of the fact that insecticides affect insects, and bees are insects.”