Running head: HOW CAN WE HELP SAVE THE HONEY BEES FROM EXTINCTION?

How can we help save the honey bees from extinction?

Coco Nelson

Edina High School

Author Note

This paper was prepared for Pre-AP English 10, taught by Ms. Roehl.
Running head: HOW CAN WE HELP SAVE THE HONEY BEES FROM EXTINCTION? 2

The honey bee population has been declining in catastrophic numbers over the past 10

years (Beck, 2016, n.p.). This is known as Colony Collapse Disorder. There are many factors that

are contributing to the decline in population including loss of habitat, climate change, pesticides,

malnutrition, parasites and diseases. There is no single cause for the disappearance in honey

bees. Research and studies have been done to prove many different causes of the population

decline. Honey bees pollinate about 80 percent of crops feeding the world (Lewontin, 2016,

n.p.), so without them, animals and humans would struggle to survive. They are a key part of

providing food and nutrition, so if they go extinct, the world will lose all of these crops that they

pollinate. One major factor affecting the decline in the honey bee population is the use of

pesticides, particularly neonicotinoids, in agriculture and gardening. Homeowners can help save

the bees from extinction by not using pesticide carrying sprays in their gardens.

What Will Happen if the Honey Bee Becomes Extinct?

The animals that eat the foods that honey bees pollinate will die and humans will even

struggle to survive if the honey bee becomes extinct. Not only do they produce honey, but they

also pollinate about a hundred important crops that make up a third of the American diet,

including apples, pears, almonds, and raspberries (Barone, 2016, p14). Without the honey bees,

the world would lose all of the crops that they pollinate, which is a major problem because these

crops make up a large amount of the worlds diet.

How is Malnutrition Causing Extinction?

Some honey bees are not getting a variety of plants in their diet and one reason for this is

that they are only getting nutrition from pollinating one crop. One of the biggest problems,

especially in the United States, is that giant swaths of farmland are devoted to just one crop, and
Running head: HOW CAN WE HELP SAVE THE HONEY BEES FROM EXTINCTION? 3

wildflowers are disappearing (Borenstein, 2016, n.p.). If farmers are having honey bees

pollinate only one crop, the bees are not gathering nectar and pollen from a variety of other

plants, which is bad for their diet. Another problem regarding the nutrition of the honey bees is

that commercial beekeepers are not feeding them foods from their natural diet. ...commercial

beekeepers feed them on the bee equivalent of protein bars and Lucozade--a mixture of artificial

supplements, protein and glucose/fructose syrup (Thomas, 2007, pp. 30-35). The honey bees

bodies do not respond well to this type of food and their immune system cannot take it, resulting

in them becoming sick and possibly getting a virus.

What Types of Parasites Have Affected Honey Bees?

Parasites have been another factor leading to the decline in honey bee colonies.

The tracheal mite and the varroa mite are the two mite infestations that weaken the honey bee.

Varroa, in particular, depresses the bees' immune response, making it more prone to infection

(Thomas, 2007, pp. 30-35). The Varroa mite attacks the honey bees and can make them sick, and

eventually die.

How Are Pesticides Harming Honey Bees?

Honey bees become addicted to the harming neonicotinoid substance that is sprayed on

crops that they pollinate. As they keep coming back for more, the chemicals can damage bees

central nervous systems, ultimately impacting their ability to pollinate flowers, one study found

last month (Lewontin, 2016, n.p.). Bees cannot tolerate the certain chemicals in neonicotinoids,

but they have a strong craving for the substance. Pesticides are constantly being used in

agriculture to kill insects that eat plants, but the substance isnt only killing these insects.

Are Pesticides Really Being Used?

Running head: HOW CAN WE HELP SAVE THE HONEY BEES FROM EXTINCTION? 4

A lot of research has shown that pesticides are used often and they majorly contributing

to the decline in the honey bee population. Entomologists have been concerned about the

disappearance of pollinators worldwide for at least a decade, and recent research has revealed

some potential sources of their decline, particularly the proliferation of pesticides in agriculture

(Beck, 2016, n.p.). After a good amount of research and studies, pesticides in agriculture has

been found to be an extreme cause of the disappearance of honey bees for the past 10 years.

These pesticides are used so often that there are few climates that do not have pesticides in them.

... safe pastures where bees can forage without being poisoned by pesticides are becoming

increasingly rare (Levy, 2006, pp.14-21). The bees are surrounded by these chemicals in

climates that they live in, where they eat, sleep, and breath. This is making it much harder for

beekeepers to raise honey bees in good health.

What Are Retailers Doing About This?

Many retailers have been making a difference once they became aware of the harm their

products caused the honey bees, by getting rid of pesticides in their products. More than 60

retailers - including The Home Depot, Whole Foods Market, BJ's Wholesale Club, and Lowe's -

have promised to phase out nursery plants that have been treated with neonicotinoid (Dussault,

2016, n.p.). Because of the decline in the honey bee population, retailers are becoming aware of

the problem and want to help out by stopping the use of pesticides in the products they sell.

How Can People Help With This?

Homeowners using pesticide-carrying sprays in their gardens are big contributors to this

issue. The neonicotinoids are very harmful to bees. One major thing that people can do is to stop

using these sprays in their gardens. Long said, "As a general community we need to be mindful

of whether we really need to use a pesticide for a particular pest problem" (as cited in Beck,
Running head: HOW CAN WE HELP SAVE THE HONEY BEES FROM EXTINCTION? 5

2016, n.p.). Refraining from using these pesticides would make a very big difference and the

honey bee population will continue to decline if people keep using pesticides.

How is the Problem of Malnutrition Being Solved?

The USDA and other organizations are dealing with the issue of malnutrition by getting

involved with helping the honey bees have a healthier diet by having access to more nutrients.

Some programs offer farmers money to grow plants that are beneficial to bees on their land and

to intersperse wildflowers among their crops (Barone, 2016, p14). This is going to provide

better nutrition for the honey bees and a healthier state for them so that they can continue to

pollinate the many crops that they provide for the world.

How is the Government Intervening?

President Obama even took action on the issue of the honey bee population decline to

help sustain American crops. On Tuesday, the Obama administration will announce the first

National Strategy to Promote the Health of Honey Bees and Other Pollinators, a bureaucratic

title for a plan to save the bee, other small winged animals and their breeding grounds (Eilperin,

2015, p. A.3). Obama wants to save the honey bees to prevent the loss of all of the crops that

they pollinate making up a large amount of the American diet. Hopefully with this strategy, they

can help save the pollinator.

Whats the Final Buzz About Honey Bees?

Malnutrition is a major factor for the decline in the honey bee population, many bees are

not getting the proper nutrition they need in their diet for many different reasons. Also the use of

pesticides, particularly neonicotinoids, in garden sprays is a major factor for the decline in the

honey bee population. Luckily, many retailers are phasing out these harming chemicals in their

products. Lastly parasites are a contributing cause of the decline, particularly the dangerous
Running head: HOW CAN WE HELP SAVE THE HONEY BEES FROM EXTINCTION? 6

varroa mite that is attacking honey bees. Many organizations are trying to come up with more

solutions to save the honey bees. For instance, Intelligent Nutrients, a local Minnesota company,

has created the HMR Pollinator project in an effort to provide the University of Minnesota with a

working farm where scientists and students can study and learn more about the bee habitat.

Another well known company, Burts Bees, is also doing community outreach to help with the

plight of the honey bees. They have an organization, The Burt's Bees Greater Good Foundation,

that is dedicated to supporting the health of pollinators. The organization provides grants to help

with conservation and research. In addition to health and beauty products, honey bees also play a

major role in providing food for the world. This also supports commerce and the economy. The

honeybees pollinate $14 billion worth of seed and crops each year. Without them, the world

would lose all of the crops that they pollinate, resulting in many consequences. Many things

people enjoy daily will no longer be available. Many foods will no longer exist; apples, mangos,

plums, peaches, coffee, walnuts, strawberries, lemons, avocados, beans, watermelon, cherries,

tomatoes, grapes, blackberries, eggplant, vanilla, cabbage, tangerines, carrots, onions, apricots,

pears, and much, much more. The bees are dying and if nothing is done about this, honey bee

becoming extinct will become a frightening reality. If people stop the use of pesticides and if

beekeepers feed their bees a proper, healthy diet, the bees will continue to live and pollinate the

many crops that are significant to the world.

Running head: HOW CAN WE HELP SAVE THE HONEY BEES FROM EXTINCTION? 7

References

Beck, C. (2016, 06/01). To save the bees, mind the household bug spray, study says. Christian

Science Monitor Retrieved from http://sks.sirs.com

Borenstein, S. (2016, 02/02). UN science report warns of fewer bees, other pollinators.

Chattanooga Times & Free Press Retrieved from http://sks.sirs.com

Dussault, J. (2016, 08/18). Scientists said that pesticides were bad for bees - and retailers..

Christian Science Monitor Retrieved from http://sks.sirs.com

Eilperin, J. (2015, 05/19). Obama acts to protect bees. Washington Post Retrieved from

http://sks.sirs.com

Lewontin, M. (2016, 04/12). Protecting bees: Ortho nixes neonicotinoids in bee-friendly move.

Christian Science Monitor Retrieved from http://sks.sirs.com

Thomas, P. (2007, 06). Give bees a chance. Ecologist (London, England) Vol.37, no.5, , 30-35.

Retrieved from http://sks.sirs.com

Barone, J. (2016, April 18). Save the bees! How scientists hope to help the honeybees that

pollinate our favorite foods. Current Science, P.14.

Levy, S. (2006, The vanishing. OnEarth Vol.28, no.2, , 14-21. Retrieved from http://sks.sirs.com