Declining Bee Populations

[Black Orchid]

Bees pollinate three quarters of the crops that feed 90% of the entire population. This means that a world without bees would severely struggle to maintain its population. So why aren't we taking the sharp decline in bee populations seriously?

OK so kudos for Bunnings for pulling a pesticide off their shelves which could be affecting the navigation and immune systems of bees and possibly resulting in colony deaths but why wait for 2 years before they act?

The rising death of bee colonies is a warning. Similar to the disappearance of frogs which warns us that our waterways are polluted or the canary in the coal mine.

Neonicotinoids are already banned in France, Germany and Italy. The USA and Switzerland, which has never used them in their alpine areas as a cautionary measure, are currently in the process of banning them too. Why are we so slow to act?

Bunnings made the decision in November last year to remove the product from its UK and Australian stores amid declining British bee populations, however admitted their decision was based on precautions rather than scientific evidence.

Yates Confidor is a neonicotinoid, a class of pesticides which is absorbed by the plant rather than coating its surface. The chemicals spread to all parts of the plants, and are exposed to bees through pollen.

The European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) scientists identified a number of risks to bees from neonicotinoids in 2013, however were unable to finalise risk assessment due to data gaps.

A spokesman for the Australian Pesticides and Veterinary Medicines Authority (APVMA) said neonicotinoids registered for use in Australia are safe and effective. BS!!

http://www.canberratimes.com.au/nationa ... 0htzq.html

[Neferti]

I hate HONEY ... so am I a bee hater?

[cods]

oh god NO.. I dont eat honey but love bees...they are beautiful and so hard working..

last nioght I watched a show on ABC regarding disappearing frogs....it was so interesting....
these scientist only 4 of them are trying to clone a extinct frog.that only disappeared about 30 years ago..

the weirdest animal on the planet it ate its own eggs and these eggs remained inside until they formed into baby frogs when they would "hatch" from the females mouth fully formed...... this has only been seen by one of the scien tists they were plentiful until one season they didnt appear again...
all they have a piece frozen for all these years in a home freezer....but they are ever hopeful...

I wasnt exactly thrilled with the thought of what they are doing... but at the same time it was mesmerising...

[Black Orchid]

That sounds interesting Cods I must have missed it. We, as a whole, don't seem to care about the little things like frogs and bees but they are a very important factor in our wellbeing and longevity.

We need to stop being so complacent.

I know someone who used to stick her head in the sand and flap her arms and say "Oh that doesn't affect me so I don't want to hear about it". She didn't care that it could, or would, affect her children, grandchildren etc or that things that indirectly affect us will ultimately directly affect us all. I really hate that sort of attitude.

[cods]

we should never ever say

I DONT CARE..

its a bad attitude to have... I have always liked frogs and bees so tiny so clever...dont like toads dont get me wrong..
but some aussie frogs are gorgeous and back in England we have the bumb le bee again pure delight...

I think nef needs to open her eyes and just watch these guys in action...watch how they dive into a flower and pack those little pockets

I love David Attenborough for that he gets up so close to these things..... its magic..

[Black Orchid]

I have some potted Agapanthus on my verandah and over the past few days I have been watching one very busy little bee go from flower to flower before deciding to descend. I haven't seen many bees around for a long time and it gets one thinking.

When I was young we had Willie Wagtails and other small birds on the dew on the lawn daily but I have not seen one in many years. There is a lot of bush around me and I have Cockatoos, Magpies and the occasional Kookaburra or Owl but no small birds anymore except for those horrible Minor birds ARGHHH!!

Last year I also noticed a few Butterflies which I have also not seen for years.

We clear way too much land for a start to fit in way too many people that we cannot comfortably sustain.

[cods]

I have some potted Agapanthus on my verandah and over the past few days I have been watching one very busy little bee go from flower to flower before deciding to descend. I haven't seen many bees around for a long time and it gets one thinking.

When I was young we had Willie Wagtails and other small birds on the dew on the lawn daily but I have not seen one in many years. There is a lot of bush around me and I have Cockatoos, Magpies and the occasional Kookaburra or Owl but no small birds anymore except for those horrible Minor birds ARGHHH!!

Last year I also noticed a few Butterflies which I have also not seen for years.

We clear way too much land for a start to fit in way too many people that we cannot comfortably sustain.

we make a lot of noise too today...traffic is constant I dont blame them leaving...I think its better out of the cities I hope so anyway...I agree a lot of sprays we use today are very harmful...

if you watch landline our farmers are doing heaps to sustain the land better than we have been doing......yet in the towns and cities all we do is create chaos..and highrise.

[Neferti]

I have some potted Agapanthus on my verandah and over the past few days I have been watching one very busy little bee go from flower to flower before deciding to descend. I haven't seen many bees around for a long time and it gets one thinking.

When I was young we had Willie Wagtails and other small birds on the dew on the lawn daily but I have not seen one in many years. There is a lot of bush around me and I have Cockatoos, Magpies and the occasional Kookaburra or Owl but no small birds anymore except for those horrible Minor birds ARGHHH!!

Last year I also noticed a few Butterflies which I have also not seen for years.

We clear way too much land for a start to fit in way too many people that we cannot comfortably sustain.

Oh, I have watched the busy bees at work plus butterflies.

I still get a variety of Parrots every day, plus of course the Magpies, etc. I even saw a Willie Wagtail not so long ago. We used to hear a Kookaburra when I first moved here to Canberra but not any longer, I had a Kookaburra when I lived in St Ives and used to put out feed, he became quite tame.

Fortunately, those Indian Myna birds are rare around here! Horrible things. I still have a couple of Blackbirds (also an introduced species), but they are harmless and quiet.

[Agnes]

We have bees and butterflies where I am - going from flower to flower- this is heartening at least

[cods]

so do we agnes but not like in the past they are very susceptible to sprays and crap..

and we use an awful lot in this country..