Ericathephantom’s Weblog

UK bee colonies are worryingly further on the decline.

Around a fifth of the UK bee population have been killed since last year due to many theoretical environmental impacts.

The greatest concern is that the lack of bees will mean less pollination of flowers and crops, affecting us all in the long term. They also provide honey and £165 million a year British industry.

Although the actual cause for the deaths is unknown, the bee population across Europe and USA has also declined over the last decade.

One theory is the decline of wildflowers. Most bee species have long tongues, designed to obtain nectar from plants with long petal tubs such as clover, thistles and other wild flowers normally found in hay meadows which are also on the decline.

Beekeepers also argued that bees in the UK could be wiped out within 10 years by disease unless a research programme is launched. Ministers claim that there isn’t enough money in the budget to cater for this research. The varroa mite, which wiped out 80% of the bee population in parts of the US, reached Britain 10 years agao and the bee population is still suffering.

Another theory is the increased usage of a type of pesticide containing clothianidin. These have now been banned in Germany in an attempt to increase the bee population once again.

To prevent further decline in bee numbers, people are being asked to help by planting ‘bee-friendly’ plants in their garden, report swarms to the authorities, purchase local honey to financially help local bee farmers and even become amateur beekeepers themselves if there is space in their garden.