Are honeybees losing their way?

[PETRUS]

A single honeybee visits hundreds, sometimes thousands, of flowers a day in search of nectar and pollen. Then it must find its way back to the hive, navigating distances up to five miles (eight kilometers), and perform a "waggle dance" to tell the other bees where the flowers are.

A new study shows that long-term exposure to a combination of certain pesticides might impair the bee's ability to carry out its pollen mission.

"Any impairment in their ability to do this could have a strong effect on their survival," said Geraldine Wright, a neuroscientist at Newcastle University in England and co-author of a new study posted online February 7, 2013, in the Journal of Experimental Biology.

Wright's study adds to the growing body of research that shows that the honeybee's ability to thrive is being threatened. Scientists are still researching how pesticides may be contributing to colony collapse disorder (CCD), a rapid die-off seen in millions of honeybees throughout the world since 2006...


Read more: http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2013/13/130213-honeybee-pesticide-insect-behavior-science/

[arikara]

1. I think there is more to it than pesticides

probably a combination of things but I wish they would do more studies into the effects from the exponential proliferation of wireless technology such as phones, internet, smart meters.

Would people give up poking away at their phones if it meant no more pollination?

[PETRUS]

2. I'm with you.

There have been at least a few (studies), but I don't know if there's anything in progress/planned right now. Do you?

[RobertEarl]

3. Farmer friend of mine has great hives

Of course, the bees don't have far to travel to get to the biggest flower fields around. Heck they can practically see their hive from anywhere on the farm.

Friends who have wild hives are hurting. Their hives are not doing well at all.

This is just anecdotal evidence that supports the OP theory of bees getting lost.