SNC1D Science Journal

There are many factors that are limiting the population of the bees, Some are caused by humans, and some are caused by nature. What ever the reason may be, humans need to step in and help because bees are an incredibly important part of Earths terrestrial ecosystems.

Habitat Loss

Many bee colonies are losing their homes due to intense urbanization, and deforestation. As Humans continue to demolish forests, and fields, wild bees are rapidly losing areas to create hives and find areas to gather food for their hive.

Pesticides

The use of pesticides on farmers crops have greatly reduced the population of bees. There are many ways a bee can come in contact with pesticides, and the reckless use of them can wipe out colonies. Some of the most dangerous pesticides for bees are Methamidophos, Deltamethrin, Permethrin, and Carbaryl. Here are a few ways bees can come in contact with these pesticides.

• Insecticides drifting onto blooming crops or weeds adjacent to treated fields.
• Insecticidal dusts being gathered with the pollen and getting taken back to the hive by foraging bees. This is especially hazardous with open blooming flowers such as dandelions, narrow-leaved hawk’s-beard, etc.
• drinking or coming in contact with water on foliage or flowers which contains pesticides.

Parasites

Bee colonies have been getting ravaged by numerous dangerous parasites, the most notable and infamous being the Verroa mite. These external mites feed on the blood of adult bees, larvae, and pupae and can only reproduce in bee hives. Another parasite that are dangerous to bees are the internal Honey bee tracheal mite. These mites, like their name says, live in the tracheae of adult bees. These mites make it extremely difficult for bees to breath because of their inhabitance in the tracheae. Just like the Verroa mite, they feed on blood. To obtain the blood they pierce the walls of the the breathing tubes by using their mouth.