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Vanishing Honeybees Will Affect Future Crops

daninbusiness writes "Across the US, beekeepers are finding that their bees are disappearing — not returning while searching for nectar and pollen. This could have a major impact on the food industry in the United States, where as much as $14 billion worth of agriculture business depends on bees for crop pollination. Reasons for this problem, dubbed 'colony collapse disorder,' are still unknown. Theories include viruses, some type of fungus, poor bee nutrition, and pesticides."

27 of 322 comments (clear)

  1. It's Global Warming! by spun · · Score: 1, Funny

    Where's my check?

    Haha, just kidding. I believe in anthropogenic global warming, but I can't resist an easy shot like that.

    --
    - None can love freedom heartily, but good men; the rest love not freedom, but license. -- John Milton
    1. Re:It's Global Warming! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Funny

      Some species of beatle is eating the redwoods.

      Is anyone else picturing Ringo chewing on a redwood log?

    2. Re:It's Global Warming! by Dr+Caleb · · Score: 1, Funny

      France blames global warming on GEOs? Wow! Personally, I blame Chevrolet for the GEO.

      --
      "History doesn't repeat itself, but it does rhyme." Mark Twain
    3. Re:It's Global Warming! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Funny

      Its all that Norwegian Wood.

    4. Re:It's Global Warming! by Plunky · · Score: 2, Funny

      It was also nice to have some 350 odd acres to play on as a kid.
      what was odd about them, did it affect your development?
  2. Damn birds by MightyYar · · Score: 4, Funny

    Obviously it is the resurgence in bird populations that is killing the bees.

    We have to bring back DDT.

    This is simply a matter of the birds and the bees.

    --
    W..w..W - Willy Waterloo washes Warren Wiggins who is washing Waldo Woo.
    1. Re:Damn birds by HTH+NE1 · · Score: 5, Funny

      Bees get on my chimes anyway. The fuckers always want to sting me.

      Have you considered wearing pants?

      --
      Oh, say does that Star-Spangled Banner entwine / The myrtle of Venus with Bacchus's vine?
  3. please... by gEvil+(beta) · · Score: 4, Funny

    Oh please. Like bees have anything to do with crop production...What are these so-called "scientists" going to try to convince us of next?

    --
    This guy's the limit!
  4. Reason for disappearance by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Funny

    Al Gore eat them.

  5. They're heading back.. by bagboy · · Score: 2, Funny

    across the border into Mexico.... They heard the pollen there is sweeter and more abundant.. Plus they can get health care for free..

  6. American honeybees... by zstlaw · · Score: 4, Funny

    Why would they come back? Chinese and Indian honeybees do it cheaper. Rather than wait for their jobs to be outsourced, American honeybees are moving on to greener pastures.

    1. Re:American honeybees... by Aqua_boy17 · · Score: 4, Funny

      So are you proposing bringing in a bunch of Chinese and Indian bees under an H1-Bee visa or something?

      --
      What if the Hokey Pokey really is what it's all about?
    2. Re:American honeybees... by superstick58 · · Score: 2, Funny

      I believe the legal term is "H1-Beesa."

    3. Re:American honeybees... by georgewad · · Score: 2, Funny

      Let's not bring Jar-Jar in to this.

      --
      Karma: It's not just a good idea. It's the law.
  7. I think it's pretty clear what happened here. by mikkelm · · Score: 2, Funny

    Clearly the introduction of Africanised bees resulted in some sort of bee-AIDS epidemic.

    Those promiscuous pollen pilfering pests!

  8. Children have little fingers by spun · · Score: 4, Funny

    We could put them to work in the fields, pollinating plants. Feed them enough sugar and they'd even buzz around like bees.

    You people worry to much. No matter how much we fuck things up, we'll always find a way to fix it that doesn't hurt anyone that matters.

    --
    - None can love freedom heartily, but good men; the rest love not freedom, but license. -- John Milton
    1. Re:Children have little fingers by Joe+Snipe · · Score: 2, Funny

      I don't matter you insensitive clod!

      --
      Sometimes, life itself is sarcasm...
    2. Re:Children have little fingers by LoveGoblin · · Score: 2, Funny
      You know the old joke about how you owe me a cup of coffee because your comment made me laugh and my coffee spewed out my nose?

      You owe me a slice of pizza.

  9. It's obvious. by Minwee · · Score: 4, Funny

    This whole "No Drone Left Behind" thing is a failure. The bees are heading out of the country for better educations, free health care and fewer 'reality' programs on the tele.

  10. It's a conspiracy! by mobby_6kl · · Score: 4, Funny

    No, really. The bees are being captured by the government and kept in secret facilities where they are pollinating a secret genetically engineered type of plant, which causes them to become carriers of the smallpox virus and be more aggressive. The bees are then used to spread smallpox where needed, without causing an immediate biological warfare panic.

    That's why the bees are disappearing from private bee farms.

  11. Obligatory Simpsons quotation by poot_rootbeer · · Score: 2, Funny

    Beekeeper 1: Well, sure is quiet in here today.
    Beekeeper 2: Yes, a little too quiet, if you know what I mean.
    Beekeeper 1: Hmm...I'm afraid I don't.
    Beekeeper 2: You see, bees usually make a lot of noise. No noise --
                              suggests no bees!
    Beekeeper 1: Oh, I understand now. Oh look, there goes one now.
    Beekeeper 2: To the Beemobile!
    Beekeeper 1: You mean your Chevy?
    Beekeeper 2: Yes.

  12. Scientists? by encoderer · · Score: 2, Funny

    Scientists? Please.

    These are the people who don't believe in the book of Genesis, for chrissake.

    <cite: bill maher>

  13. Re:I realize that this post is supposed to be a jo by LordPhantom · · Score: 3, Funny

    It may seem silly but it is a critically important roll that the bees have to crop production.
    It's not silly at all! I, like you, believe in the great insectoid pastry from whence all food production pours forth!

  14. Crystal honeycomb... by fahrbot-bot · · Score: 4, Funny
    Across the US, beekeepers are finding that their bees are disappearing -- not returning while searching for nectar and pollen.

    That explains the crystal honeycomb I received in the mail last week. It was engraved, "So long and thanks for all the flowers."

    --
    It must have been something you assimilated. . . .
  15. Re:It sucks. by Joe+Snipe · · Score: 2, Funny

    Well yeah, everyone knows spelling bees are the phirst to go...
    wait, phirst? Uh, oh...

    --
    Sometimes, life itself is sarcasm...
  16. Valinor by woozlewuzzle · · Score: 2, Funny

    They are departing these shores forever. They are traveling to the Grey Havens, never to be seen in Middle Earth again.

    Oh, bees.

    nevermind.

  17. Re:Humor? by complexmath · · Score: 4, Funny

    When a pompous man hears a question, he replies with a non sequitur?