The Science and Politics Behind Colony Collapse Disorder; Is the Crisis Over?

iONiUM writes: An article at the Globe and Mail claims that there is no longer any Honeybee crises, and that the deaths of the Honeybees previously was a one-off, or possibly non-cyclical occurrence (caused by neonics or nature — the debate is still out). The data used is that from Stats Canada which claims "the number of honeybee colonies is at a record high [in Canada]." Globally, the UN's Food and Agricultural Organization says that "worldwide bee populations have rebounded to a record high." The story reports: "I have great news for honey lovers everywhere. The Canadian honeybee industry is thriving. Despite those headlines about mass die-offs and and killer pesticides, the number of honeybee colonies is at a record high. Last year, according to Statistics Canada, nearly 700,000 honeybee colonies produced $200-million worth of honey. Bee survival rates have rebounded even in Ontario, which was hard hit by unusually high winter die-offs."

Comments

Re:I'm going with it was a new pesticide...

[drinkypoo]

Riiiiight... me and the anyone else that has ever had to grow anything. We're all stupid.

Most of you are.

First, maintaining non-pest insect predators for every possible pest species is fucking difficult and very expensive.

Only if you're a fucking idiot and make it difficult. You don't actually do that. You just plant trap crops, and plants which attract beneficials. Oh no, the idiot wailed, but that will take up space which I want to use for other things! Tough fucking titty. Nature doesn't plant monocultures, but it sure does eat them. In fact, that's why we don't see monocultures in nature, for the most part. Only a few plants which ruin the soil for other things can really manage it.

Yes, pests can come across and wipe out plants which are planted in guilds with beneficials and with other plants which strengthen them, but it's less likely. Stop planting monocultures.