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More research is needed about how honey bees are exposed to pesticides outside the field in which they are
placed. We detected 35 different pesticides in the sample
pollen, and found high fungicide loads, the authors wrote
in PLOS One. Our results highlight a need for research on
sub-lethal effects of fungicides and other chemicals that
bees in an agricultural setting are exposed to.
CCD isnt just about the bees food crops and agriculture
economies are affected too. Because bee populations are so
low in the United States, for instance, the surviving colonies
are working overtime to pollinate crops in California and
elsewhere. More than $30 billion worth of crops in the U.S.
could be seriously at risk if the continuing die off of honeybees were to reach critical levels.
While the researchers were careful not to directly link the
complex web of pesticides found in the pollen samples
directly to Colony Collapse Disorder, the inference is hard to
ignore.
Its also just common sense. Something has been causing
CCD in different parts of North America, and it would make
sense that chemicals designed to kill certain things like pests
or weeds might also have unintended consequences when
combined and spread outside crops.
Leave a patch of the garden in a sunny spot uncultivated for native bees that burrow. Some native bees also need access to soil
surface for nesting. For wood- and stem-nesting bees, this means
piles of branches, bamboo sections, hollow reeds, or nesting
blocks made out of untreated wood. Mason bees need a source of
water and mud, and many kinds of bees are attracted to weedy,
untended hedgerows.
Avoid using herbicides or pesticides in the bee garden. They not
only can be toxic to bees but also are best not introduced to
children or adults that visit your garden. Ladybugs, spiders, and
praying mantises will naturally keep pest populations in check.
Bees need a place to get fresh, clean water. Fill a shallow container of water with pebbles or twigs for the bees to land on while
drinking. Make sure to maintain the container full of fresh water
to ensure that they know they can return to the same spot every
day.
Even if you live in a place with no garden, you can still help. You
need only a small plot of landit can even be a window container
or rooftopto create an inviting oasis for bees. Every little bit can
help to nurture bees and other pollinators.