The US wild bee population got hammered hard back in the 80s by some kind of parasite. I've seen numbers ranging from 25 to 80% hive failure in the wild as a result, I haven't seen much about how well they've recovered. I will say that I haven't seen wild fruit trees in Vermont and New Hampshire with a decent yield in well over a decade, for what it is worth.

This story is just hitting the mainstream media, with little mention of GM crops as a possible factor. http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/18274416/

"If humans 'tamper with Nature at our own risk' but at the same time you insinuate that humans are just another part of nature, nothing more, then how can we tamper with it?"

I've read your question about a dozen times now, and it still doesn't make any sense. Maybe I'm more tired than I realize.

If armadillos could create atomic bombs, an endless stream of poisons aimed at the environment, and create lambs from moldy cheese and toenail parings, they would neither be part of nature NOR negatively affecting it?

Do we live in a vaccum and I haven't noticed???

Sue

If the above was true then this shouldn't be possible



right? I mean if we can jack up the system by toying with stuff we shouldn't be toying with then Gaia isn't doing her job very well. :-)

Humans were a poor invention. Mean, destructive, irresponsible... what the English call 'a spanner in the works'.

Run a Ferrari at 175 mph with the oil pan drain plug in the garage. Is the result the Ferrari's fault or the mechanic's?

Very true. But we can also be loving, kind, generous, self-sacrificing, etc.

Humans are like a box of chocolates... you just never know what you're going to get!

And people get really upset if you take a bite out of one then put him/her back in a box...

-Blast

I've been following some of the developments on Colony Collapse Disorder. There have been a few articles within the last couple days regarding gene sequencing tests being used to find possible culprits.

More CCD Clues

And More

http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/nation/la-sci-bees26apr26,1,367041.story

Maybe it occurs because we’re spraying pesticides on genetically-modified fungus while using our cellphones during the occurrence of sunspots!

Well, at least now they have some evidence to back up a hypothesis.

Here's an interesting article on how we treat our honeybees: http://www.acresusa.com/toolbox/reprints/May07_HaukBees.pdf

It also explains what 'royal jelly' is, and how it's produced... yuck!

Acres U.S.A. is a magazine dedicated to sustainable farming... fascinating reading.

Sue