No Bees

I just spoke with a beekeeper friend who confirmed my concern. He stated that across the country there was an 80% mortality rate for beekeepers. He lost 8 out of 10 hives. He also stated that finding replacement bees was impossible

The stuff I have read implies that the gmo crops' built in insecticides and herbicides manage to weaken the bees enough to make them susceptible to mite infestation and colony collapse. It doesn't "outright' kill them, but sets a chain of reactions in place. Hard to prove.

At this point there is a lot of speculation as to the cause of colony collapse but the already declining population is further suffering the effects of climate change. Add everything up and it seems to me that a perfect storm is brewing. I will be drastically increasing seed saving and refining hand pollination techniques

Like a few other Mid-westerners, I had that frigid winter. I didn't see my first JB until the 15th of July and haven't managed to collect more than a small dozen at the most during my hunting trips around the yard. Most trips result in far less to none.

This is definitely a good thing!

I don't know which bees I have around here -- along with all the other flying things -- but the spring orchard hummed overhead as usual.

I think all the JBs must have packed up and moved over here. The majority are gone, but I'm still seeing a few. Had 100's there for awhile.

When I was out taking garden pictures last week, I kept hearing that certain humming buzz and thought to myself that it is way too late in the summer for my bees to be swarming. Then I found them all hanging out on my corn, gathering the pollen from the tassels and the leaves, several hundred of them and it's a small patch of corn too. They've been so thick on the white clover lately that you can hardly walk through the yard, maybe 3 or 4 bees per square foot.

Despite the unusually cold winter, my bees came through strong and have every year since I've had them with little interference from me. I truly believe it is the abundance and wide variety of natural forage they have here. There are some small cornfields here and there, but the majority of our land is untouched deciduous forest (trees are a major forage plant for bees), brushy slopes and unsprayed hedgerows. It gives them better odds of setting up their winter foodstores if they have a variety of plants to choose from. Where I live is too hilly to support much ag activity other than cattle.

I know the CCD theories are still somewhat up in the air, but I believe the casualty numbers are coming mostly from larger pollination operations that have thousands of hives. But even some of the smaller beeks are using the same modern management techniques and I think that in conjunction with varroa mites and pesticide/herbicide exposure, many colonies just have weaker immune systems due to supplemental feeding with sugar water and corn syrup. It provides energy in the form of sugars, but it does not provide the same nutrients as their natural forage does. Just what happens to people when we eat junk food and don't get our vitamins and minerals...you see? That is my theory anyway.

I have started the journey in to bee keeping knowledge. I will be building a hive as soon as I am really sure that I have a clue what to do with them. I love honey in my tea so it will work for me 2 ways!
I have no idea what is going on I know the Yellow jacket population here is good I have covered 3 holes from them!

journey11 said:

But even some of the smaller beeks are using the same modern management techniques and I think that in conjunction with varroa mites and pesticide/herbicide exposure, many colonies just have weaker immune systems due to supplemental feeding with sugar water and corn syrup. It provides energy in the form of sugars, but it does not provide the same nutrients as their natural forage does. Just what happens to people when we eat junk food and don't get our vitamins and minerals...you see? That is my theory anyway.

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CORN SYRUP--and where does that come from? And just what kind of corn is used for corn syrup? GMO. You are right Journey, your bees get their natural food from natural plants and they are healthier for it.

For those of us experiencing a decrease in Japanese beetle population this is the perfect year to knock them down further with milky spore applications

so lucky said:

@Bluejay77, one of the beans I got from you is the JBs' favorite food. I find them stacked 3 and 4 in a pile hidden amongst the leaves, having a party I guess.

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Which bean that I sent to you does JB find so tasty? There definitely is those varieties that JB's zero in on more than others. I am growing a bush one this year called Fowler that was claimed to be left alone by JB's. I was skeptical, but so far this year not a single nibble by a JB on these plants. I think some varieties are more aromatic and attract JB's more. I wish all my varieties were like this Fowler I am growing.

Bluejay77 said:

Which bean that I sent to you does JB find so tasty? There definitely is those varieties that JB's zero in on more than others. I am growing a bush one this year called Fowler that was claimed to be left alone by JB's. I was skeptical, but so far this year not a single nibble by a JB on these plants. I think some varieties are more aromatic and attract JB's more. I wish all my varieties were like this Fowler I am growing.

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Perhaps this Fowler has breeding potential for just that purpose?

Also staying on topic I do not doubt that GM crops and chemical usage are really hurting the bees.