Friday, March 29, 2013

Bee Colony Collapse in California Accelerates Rapidly this Year


A New York Times video here:

The bees are dying and cannot be kept alive in California.

40% to 50% of insects lost to colony collapse disaster since last year.

A new class of pesticides is seen as responsible.

An article addressing the bee collapse is here: Mystery Malady Kills More Bees, Heightening Worry on Farms March 28 2013 by M. Wines NYT http://www.nytimes.com/2013/03/29/science/earth/soaring-bee-deaths-in-2012-sound-alarm-on-malady.html?nl=todaysheadlines&emc=edit_th_20130329&_r=0

[excerpted] BAKERSFIELD, Calif. — A mysterious malady that has been killing honeybees en masse for several years appears to have expanded drastically in the last year, commercial beekeepers say, wiping out 40 percent or even 50 percent of the hives needed to pollinate many of the nation’s fruits and vegetables. 

A conclusive explanation so far has escaped scientists studying the ailment, colony collapse disorder, since it first surfaced around 2005. But beekeepers and some researchers say there is growing evidence that a powerful new class of pesticides known as neonicotinoids, incorporated into the plants themselves, could be an important factor. The pesticide industry disputes that. But its representatives also say they are open to further studies to clarify what, if anything, is happening. [end]


Majia here: Although the neonicotinoids are likely the main factor in causing the die-offs, one has to wonder whether the radiation fallout from Fukushima played a role in accelerating the process. Bakersfield had some of the highest readings, as illustrated below in the chart generated from EPA beta data. 

This year has been an especially bad year for animal die offs, particularly in California:


 

For a discussion of animal die-offs and links to my records see:

Majia's Blog: N. American Monarch Colonies Hit "Record Low" This ...

majiasblog.blogspot.com/.../n-american-monarch-colonies-hit-...
Mar 17, 2013 – Op-Ed Contributors The Winter of the Monarch By LINCOLN P. BROWER and HOMERO ARIDJIS Published: March 15, 2013 ...


 




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