Seattlest: What's The Deal With The Colony Collapse Thing?

capmblade

Thu, 07 Jun 2007 11:07:35 -0800

This is just the media trying to scare everyone again. Bee colony die-offs have happened many, many times in the last few hundred years. And the current die-off is limited to one particular strain (the European Honey bee) which is used for commercial purposes. The reason that the scientific community is so quiet about this is that this is actually just another media scare to keep you glued to the TV or the internet or whatever. Read more at dub-dub-dub dot straightdope dot com.

MvB

Thu, 07 Jun 2007 09:24:06 -0800

kasa: I've read that, too, organic beekeepers not reporting any issues. But it's been anecdotal, I don't think there's been a statement by all organic beekeepers that none of them have had problems. Patrick: I've read it's not cellphones in several places. The Washington Post article I linked to sez this: Where did the cellphone idea come from? "The authors of that story were from Germany. It wasn't even a cellphone. It was an old cordless phone. They tested it in small hives and saw some very minor effects. We work with bees in a lot of areas where you can't even get a cellphone signal. The amount of energy is very, very remote. Even the authors themselves now say that was a big stretch."The same article says, as an aside, that colony collapse is affecting 25% of the U.S.'s 2.4 million colonies of honeybees, but I'm still not sure if that includes wild and farmed honeybees or just the "kept" variety.

Patrick

Thu, 07 Jun 2007 02:29:04 -0800

Very much a mystery and everyone has a theory. Where did you read that it's not cellphones?

Jason Reilly

Wed, 06 Jun 2007 18:26:26 -0800

I was under the impression that it was migratory honeybees that were rebelling against the queen, not all kinds of bees. Now, that's a big deal, but it wouldn't be the same as the end of bees for eternity.

kasa

Wed, 06 Jun 2007 17:21:16 -0800

I don't remember where I read it recently, but I definitely did - supposedly none of the organic beekeepers are reporting losses. ::shrug::

Matt Silvie

Wed, 06 Jun 2007 17:06:55 -0800

Plus its cold right now so global warming is also bullshit. Thanks, Drudge.

James

Wed, 06 Jun 2007 17:03:51 -0800

Yeah, we've got bees in our yard in Rainier Beach. Apparently the Rainier Valley is bee heaven. Obviously, because there are bees in my yard, this proves that the whole colony collapse thing is all media hype and a bunch of hooey on top of that.

MvB

Wed, 06 Jun 2007 16:41:16 -0800

So THAT'S where they're hiding!

aaa

Wed, 06 Jun 2007 16:34:15 -0800

There's hundreds of bees in my yard in Columbia City. I plant a lot of flowers though...