Mysterious disorder destroys N.C. honeybee colonies

[Sequoia]

RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) -- Between 30 and 40 percent of eastern North Carolina's honeybees have been lost to a mysterious trend that's been stinging bee populations around the country, state officials say.

The losses have raised alarm among farmers who depend on insects to pollinate their crops. Bees pollinate about a third of the food people eat.

Jeff Lee, who rents out his honeybees to pollinate crops of blueberries, cucumbers, watermelons and cantaloupes, said he started noticing an unusual trend a few months ago. When he would open a bee box, sometimes it would be empty.

Lee estimated that he has lost about 30 percent of his 1,000 bee colonies in the past six months.

http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/N/NC_BEE_DISORDER_NCOL-?SITE=NCASH&SECTION=STATE&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT

Not just NC either, but California too. No doubt all over. This is serious, without bees many crops and flowers will die. Bees are so important. If this keeps up honey will be just a memory.

[Lone_Star_Dem]

1. As if the mites weren't doing enough damage

Now we have a new killer that has yet to be discovered.

[no_hypocrisy]

2. Pennsylvania too.

I wonder if it has something to do with this winter season being such an aberration with the relatively warm temperatures for a protracted period and the climate not panning out as the regular pattern. This could be the Silent Spring warning sign for global warming.

[lovuian]

3. Birds dying and bees dying interesting

they are interconnected

[leftyclimber]

4. In some areas beekeepers are losing 80% of their hives.

To reiterate the importance of this story, there are crops that won't be able to be pollinated if they don't figure out what's going on soon. Scary.