The Plight Of The Honey Bee

For those who saw "The Bee Movie" with Jerry Seinfeld and Renee Zellweger, I am sure you found it funny and enjoyable. But here is some food for thought: Could fiction become our reality as happened in the movie?

Scientists and the public are becoming all abuzz as they learn more about the plight of the honey bee, why they are dying and disappearing and the possible culprits and causes of a dwindling honey bee population.

This very small insect has the prime role in the support of the human food chain. Honey bees are the pollinators of fruits, vegetables and nuts.

According to much research and science, the honey bee population and the number of bee colonies has been declining since the 1940's. Their decline in recent, more modern times however is creating concern among environmentalists, scientists, researchers and more as people learn about the plight of the honeybee.

Some research and statistics state as much as 1/4 of the 2+ million colonies of honey bees have been lost.

The Apiary Inspectors of America, a national group that tracks beekeeping, is cited as saying that is tens of billions of bees. They indicate that beekeepers have lost 26% of their colonies between September, 2006 and March, 2007. Every indication is that this trend might continue should a cause not be found, isolated and rectified.

The plight of the honey bees first really came to light and was brought to scientific research when a beekeeper in Pennsylvania contacted an entomologist at Penn State University, Dr. Diane Cox-Foster. This particular beekeeper, David Hackenberg told Dr. Cox-Foster in 2006 that 50% of his bee colonies had collapsed.

The plight of the honey bee and this phenomenon has been aptly named Colony Collapse Disorder (or CCD for short).

Much has been stated about Colony Collapse Disorder in recent times as people become more aware of this threat to the honey bee population as colonies disappear. This could incredibly impact the world as we presently know it and drastically alter our food chain.

There was scientfic research that had suggested the honey bees would be extinct in the United States by 2035. It's important to realize that this claim was made prior to the attention really brought to CCD (Colony Collapse Disorder).

Another very interesting point that has been brought to light is that adult worker bees perhaps are not all dying, but rather leaving the hive never to return. Among the probable causes are that they know the colony or they are becoming infected and do not return to spread that. Honey bees are colonists in a community and the community function is not completely understood but is a pretty incredible phenomenon of nature.

There is also a theory that suggests some of the adult honey bees actually get lost before returning to the hive due to atmospheric electromagnetic radiation which is a result of the modern age of cell phones and wireless towers. Further research is still being done in this area which began with a small study in Germany that United States scientists and researchers are now also engaging in.

Penn State is one of the leading researchers with respect to the plight of the honey bee and CCD.

As a businesswoman and entrepreneur, I am proud to be affiated with a company that helps support the research of Penn State University into Colony Collapse Disorder and the plight of the honeybees. I will share more about that and how you can help in a bit.

As Scientists perform autopsies of dying honey bees they are finding that they have one or a series of ailments that could account for their population decline.

As Scientists perform autopsies of dying honey bees they are finding that they have one or a series of ailments that could account for their population decline.

There has been much speculation as to what could be causing this alone or in combination to cause this threat to this crucial insect to humanity. Among the many speculated causes and combinations mentioned are:

The emergence in the United States of the Asian Mite in the 1980's

Viruses that develop in the hives and cause a decline in the population's immune system.

Pesticides and herbicides are chemicals which also can weaken the bee's immune system.

Global Warming.

Radiation from modern devices (like cell phones and wireless towers).

Deformed Wing Virus (DWV) which is an affliction of the honey bee that originated in Great Brittain but most scientists agree has now become a global concern with honey bee colonies.

Atmospheric electromagnetic radiation which is a result of the modern age of cell phones and wireless towers that cause the adult bees to get lost before they return to the hive.

As scientists and researchers continue to investigate the causes, culprits or combinations thereof that threaten the honey bees' way of life, it is important to create awareness for the problem.

While events in The Bee Movie when pollination stopped are totally fictional, they may become non-fiction if Colony Collapse Disorder and the plight of the honey bee isn't addressed.

You Can Help By Purchasing One Of Our Honeybee Vanilla Scented Products!

I am proud to be with a company that is making a difference in the plight of the honeybees and helping to provide financial support for Penn State's research.

What is Honeybee Vanilla you ask?

Honeybee Vanilla is one of our 90+ candle scents. It was designed with the honeybee in mind and a portion of the profits from every sale of our Honeybee Vanilla Scented Products is donated to Penn State to help finance this very worthwhile research that is going to make a difference in our world.

Honeybee Vanilla is golden honey and creamy vanilla blend together for this soft, sweet & sensuous scent.

The link below takes you right to my Company Shopping Cart where you can shop for Honeybee Vanilla Scented Products as well as all the other products our company offers. When you purchase Honeybee Vanilla Scented Jar Candles, Votives or Melts (our version of tarts), a portion of this purchase goes to Penn State's research so you are supporting a great cause! 

I am proud to be a part of supporting this cause. If you are a candle lover, you will be pleased with our great scent dedicated towards saving the honeybees! If you have questions, please give me a shout anytime I can be of assistance.