There are approximately a million honeybees in the world. The honeybees of today are much different from the honeybees of centuries ago. Honeybees are not static but adapt quickly to new environments. They make their own honey, pollinate plants, and are an integral part of the food supply. Some think that the honeybee population is threatened with extinction. But is this true?
Bees are one of the most important pollinators in the world. They are credited with producing a sweet, nutritious diet for many agricultural crops and wild plants. They are known for their ability to pollinate plants in a timely manner. Like many other animal species, bees are in danger of extinction due to human actions.
Since the 1960s, the population of bees in the United States has been declining at an alarming rate. The latest United States Geological Survey (USGS) data shows that the number of managed honeybee colonies in the US dropped by approximately 42 percent between 2006 and 2015, with some states counting fewer than a quarter of their colonies in 2015. There are many factors that contribute to this alarming decline in the population of honeybees—from the loss of habitat to pesticides that have been found in pollen and nectar—but the main factor is the influx of genetically modified crops.
What are the consequences for the environment because of bees’ extinction?
- Plants will only be able to grow for the rest of their lifespan.
As the bee population continues to decline, conservationists have set their sights on the mega-colony of honeybees known as the Splendor Queen. These insects said to number in the billions are reported to be living in such large numbers that the Splendor Queen may someday be driven to extinction.
- Corals, jellyfish, and fish will die because the food they eat will only grow for the rest of their lifespan. It is a common misconception that bees are only good for pollinating flowers, but in reality, they are an extremely important part of the ecosystem. Without bees, the world would be a very different place.
- The water will be dead because there is no food than fish, jellyfish, coral, and etc., will be able to eat because there is no food. When you look at the mass amounts of news about the disappearance of bees, it is hard not to get discouraged. Bees are the key to our world, and the loss of a colony of bees can mean the death of a plant, or worse, a family. Bees are responsible for pollinating many of the foods and plants we use every day, so the loss of these animals can change our world for the worse.
- Water will be left and not be able to be used.
Bees are in trouble. According to the EPA, bees are dying from Colony Collapse Disorder (CCD). CCD is killing the world’s honeybee population, but it could be easily prevented. Recent studies show that a parasite called the Varroa mite is the biggest threat to honeybee survival. Billions of bees are dying every year. Our environment is rapidly deteriorating and spreading pollution.
- The food that the fish, coral, jellyfish, etc., eat will not grow because there is no food to grow. The world is in an uproar about the rapid decline of bees, the creatures responsible for pollinating the majority of the world’s plants. This decline has been happening for several years, and researchers think it may be caused by pesticide use, climate change, and certain parasites.
On a global scale, bees are in trouble. More than two million of the world’s bees have died in the past two years due to Colony Collapse Disorder (CCD), mysterious and sudden disappearance of entire hives. Since the global bee population has been in a steady decline in recent years, experts are struggling to understand and address CCD.
