To some, it may come as quite a surprise that I am quite enamored of the honeybee, or as it is sometimes called, Apis mellifera. Imagine my surprise as I was reading the June 2007 issue of Wired to find an article on the widespread demise of the honeybee! We’re talking some serious stuff here, that could have a pretty bad impact on anyone who eats, specifically anyone whose diet consists of fruits or vegetables. Apparently there is a well-respected entomologist named Jerry Bromenshenk from the University of Montana who has dubbed this potential catastrophe “colony collapse disorder.” Unfortunately, the cause of colony collapse disorder is proving a little tricky to discover. The current theory has to do with new chemicals being used as agricultural pesticides that could be having a long-term effect on bees that is yet to be discovered. It is documented that these pesticides cause disorientation in insects, and over time, it is possible that there could be an effect on the bees’ navigational abilities. It’s possible that the bees leave the hive to forage for pollen and simply can’t find their way back.
I’m worried about my little friend the honeybee! (I have been known to pat honeybees as they forage). And before you make fun of me, this situation is important enough to show up not only in Wired, but in the New York Times and CNN.