Preserving the Bees By Zach Ferris

What is the value of the bees? The bees are very important to our society, and even our global economy. Americans consume about 285 million pounds of honey each year. On top of that, the U.S. Department of Agriculture estimates that honeybees pollinate 80 percent of the country’s insect crops— meaning bees pollinate over $20 billion worth of crops alone, each year. Their global economic benefit is 265 million euros ($401,966,333 Canadian).

Every year, California almond growers import honey bees from other states to pollinate their $2.3-billion-a-year crop, using about half of all the honey bees in the United States. According to USDA’s most recent census of agriculture, the market value of America’s total food supply in 2012 was $394 billion. If pollinators were responsible for one-third of that, they’d be contributing $131 billion to the economy. Bees’ pollination are responsible for things such as apples, almonds, blueberries, peaches, etc.

Bees’ Medicinal value Many things that are associated with bees and their hives can have benefits for us humans, besides nutritional value. Their sting has some benefits, like the possibility of preventing HIV. Bees use a resin from poplar and evergreen trees called propolis, and humans use it to fight off bacteria, viruses, and fungi. Research shows that propolis taken from a beehive may relieve cold sores, canker sores, herpes, sore throat, cavities, and even eczema.

Bee venom therapy (sometimes called Apipuncture) has also been reported to successfully ease multiple sclerosis symptoms, such as fatigue, vision problems and numbness. Raw honey is not only loaded with B vitamins, it can also be used as a topical salve to treat burns and wounds, due to its antibacterial qualities. Ingesting bee pollen is thought to increase energy levels and stamina. It has been used to ease back pain as well as seasonal allergies.

Why the bees are dying Bees are facing problems such as global warming, pesticide use, habitat loss and parasites. Some of the pesticides that are used on farms are toxic and are meant to kill pests, can harm the honey bees needed for pollination. Many pesticides banned by other countries because they harm bees are still available in the United States. Bees have to learn many things about their environment, including how to collect pollen from flowers. Exposure to this neonicotinoid pesticide seems to prevent bees from being able to learn these essential skills.

Their Habitat loss brought about by development, abandoned farms, and growing crops without leaving habitat for wildlife, and growing gardens with flowers that are not friendly to pollinators. The parasites harming the bees are things such as harmful mites.

What we can do to save the bees Farmers must be rewarded for practices that help wild bee populations thrive, such as leaving habitat for bees in their surrounding fields, alternating crops so bees have food all year long, and not using harmful pesticides. Assistance should be provided to farmers who plan to support a wider variety of pollinators beyond just bees. Integrated Pest Management (IPM) techniques should be used to minimize pesticide use and risk to bees. By promoting beneficial insects to prey on pests, disrupting pest’s habitat and using least- toxic products when necessary.