According to an article in National Geographic' online news section, scientists are hard at work studying bees in order to solve the mystery of why the world's honeybee population is in serious decline. Perhaps you've wished unwanted bee's nests in an attic or shed would buzz off - and of course if they are Africanized, the bees are dangerous and need to go. But U.S. beekeepers began noticing a few years ago that huge numbers of bees are dying off for no apparent reason. These are bees that contribute around $15 billion to the U.S. economy every year, and are necessary for pollinating 90 major crops. So studying the problem and finding a solution are critical to farmers and humankind in general. As zoologist Martin Wikelski puts it, "Everything depends on pollinators."
The key to understanding what's causing the honeybees' decline could be creating tracking tags that are small enough to fit on their backs. Scientists have already created electronic tags that are easily carried by two of the larger bee species. These tiny trackers are about the size of three of four grains of rice, and weigh in at 0.006 ounces (170 milligrams). They are attached to the backs of orchid bees and carpenter bees with just a bit of eyelash glue and superglue. Still smaller tracking devices need to be created to study honeybees, but the team of scientists is hopeful engineers can shrink them by another 40 percent. In the meantime, native wild bees are picking up the slack, helping pollinate crops that were previously pollinated by the vanishing domesticated bees.
We suggest homeowners call in a professional to help with bees nesting in any structures. If Africanized, the bees can be dangerous - especially to children, the elderly, and pets. If it is determined that bees on your property are not Africanized, a bee removal service may be able to keep the nest intact and simply relocate the bees.
Click here for a video on "Disappearing Honey Bees: Beekeepers on What's Happening."
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