People Must Realize That Bees Are One of Our Most Valuable Resources

On September 29, 2008, I posted a blog about the importance of bees and other winged pollinators to the environment and; ultimately, our food sources. I also revealed that due to many factors, most of them man-made, there was a worldwide shortage of winged pollinators - bees in particular. Without our winged helpers, our crops don't get pollinated. No pollination - no produce. No produce - no food of any kind. Even our meat sources eat grains. The bee shortage has become so critical that beekeepers will come to remove bee infestations from anywhere.

This not only helps the person with the problem, it saves an entire colony of precious bees and the beekeeper receives an already intact hive for his/her time and trouble. Most of this work is done either at no charge or at minimal cost.

My good friend (name escapes me at the moment), just kidding, Kathi, sent me this story by email today. She is an absolute eco-nut like me and this story touched her. She feels the bees' story needs to be spread some more and I agree.

The Death of a Colony


The scene of the crime. Innocent looking enough.




This is the chemical chosen for the warfare and the implement used as the carrier of mass destruction. (George Bush: there really are weapons of mass destruction - they're just not in Iran).

Apparently, the screaming of the dying could be heard for three miles. This is the testimony of the woman who committed the act. As the cover was removed, the dead littered the balcony floor.

As she was cleaning up the mess, the woman noticed what she labelled a "fatty substance" and investigated further. What she discovered was the rest of the colony - the beeswax, the honey, the larvae, cells for future larvae. This was an intact colony.

My friend is sure she didn't realize that nearly any reputable beekeeper would have been happy to remove that colony for her. I'm sure Kathi is right.

If any kind of colony is bothering you (bee, wasp, hornet, etc) and you are unsure of your options, contact your local university - they usually have services for just about everything or know who does.

There is one thing I am very sure of about this story however: Neither Kathi or I would have set off that "bomb" and there may be a time when bees become so precious there will be a fine attached for those who do.