The Poultry Keeper

milkmaid · Joined: 19 Apr 2005 Posts: 6979 Location: isle of lewis

any thoughts on this i know some of you keep bees
http://news.independent.co.uk/environment/wildlife/article2314202.ece

CP · Posted: Fri Mar 02, 2007 11:04 am Post subject:

Blimey!

milkmaid · Joined: 19 Apr 2005 Posts: 6979 Location: isle of lewis

yep i thought it was interesting
i wonder what's causing it
any thought you bee keepers out there

Paulfrompompey · Joined: 05 Aug 2006 Posts: 162 Location: Back in Pompey

For some reason, I can't open the link, it keeps showing internet 500 error or something!

What was the link about?

Regards...

milkmaid · Joined: 19 Apr 2005 Posts: 6979 Location: isle of lewis

it was about the fact there there is a mystery surounding large numbers of bee deaths in the states ,
one bee keeper only had 8 hives left out of 1000
and the bees are transported across the country to polinate oranges and almonds
they don't know what is causing it
the bees leave the hive without the queen and the swam dies
and the bees that stay in the hives are found to be carring viruses and fungi infections up to five per bee Shocked

they were saying that other insects take advantage of weak hives but it's not happening with these hives
they are not sure if it is down to stress or another reason
it could affect the harvests Sad

i was wondering if it possibly has anything to do with gm pollen
but i'm sure that's already been covered
or the mental maps bees must have

nigel · Posted: Sun Mar 04, 2007 6:49 pm Post subject:

the current thought amongst British beekeepers is that Imidacloprid (a pesticide) is to blame for CDS - Colony Dwindling Syndrome. It happened in france a few years ago where it was sold under the name of gaucho.

Paulfrompompey · Joined: 05 Aug 2006 Posts: 162 Location: Back in Pompey

Blimey! possibly another kick in the teeth for agriculture. Especially if it is caused by imidacloprid.

Do you think it will be long before they have positive answers and a course of action in the States?

nigel · Posted: Sun Mar 04, 2007 8:45 pm Post subject:

The trouble they appear to be having in the US is that the bees are dying while out of the hive. They have very little to work with.

They do their beekeeping on such a large scale it's impossible for the beekeeper to know and check his hives thoroughly and regularly like we hobbyists do. They only find out there's a problem when the hive has died.

milkmaid · Joined: 19 Apr 2005 Posts: 6979 Location: isle of lewis

thanks nigel ,i read the articale and wondered if you knew anything ,i thought it was interesting