Mysterious disappearance of US bees creating a buzz

Yahoo News ^ | Apr. 6, 2007 | Jean-Louis Santini

[Sgt_Schultze]

There is a lot of engineered seed now. Mayhaps the food, genetically altered to resist disease, is also poisoning the bee population.

[Alia]

I've been wondering for a while now about the "bees".

Some years back, in the 90s, packet seed production went into selling seeds of which one could not harvest and re-use for other plantings. In my area, CA, then, one could only purchase these types of seeds -- so one needed to purchase seeds each time. The reproductive parts of full grown plants/produce of these seeds -- could not be used to propogate other seedlings.

I had to locate very small operations elsewhere in the country which sold the "regular" seeds. There was "talk" at the time in Northern CA from Dems about punishing those who used the "older" seeds.

I wonder if this is a factor in what is happening to the bees.

The non-perpetuating seeds were marketed as a natural "insecticide".

[DvdMom]

Another Missing Bee Article free republic Thread

[Nomorjer Kinov]

See #21 above. GMTA!

[Old_Mil]

The situation is so bad, that beekeepers are now calling for some kind of government intervention, warning the flight of the bees could be catastrophic for crop growers.

Domestic bees are essential for pollinating some 90 varieties of vegetables and fruits, such as apples, avocados, and blueberries and cherries.

Well, this isn't that great of a tragedy. Perhaps in light of the guest worker program/amnesty that Bush and the Democrats are pushing, the disappearance of bees has finally opened up a job that Americans actually won't do: Crop Pollination Specialist.

Job Description: Walk around farmer's fields from sunup to sundown with a backpack full of Q-tips, pollinating plants. Pay: Minium Wage, no benefits, no raises. Vacation: winter. Sick leave: none.

[Alia]

BTTT

[Alia]

Avian Flu and CCD.

Birds and Bees. Definitely an obsessive agenda disorder of Democrats.

[Old_Mil]

Actually, I realize that I was mistaken on this. Clearly, given the trade policies in place today, we’ll merely stop growing our own food and import the rest of it from China...where this job will be performed by political prisoners with a gun to their heads, for free.

[Alia]

Yours is my wondering, too.

[Thermalseeker]

A neighbor of mine has lost hives that have been healthy for over 20 years.

Tracheal mites have been a real problem for a while now, but that usually kills the bees in the hive. This is strange and potentially threatening to our food supply.

[pillut48]

When contacted for a response to this alarming situation, local bee expert Winnie the Pooh had only this to say: "Oh, bother!!!"

[Alia]

Just now read #21. Thank you! :)

[Dacb]

Maybe GM crops? Who knows. I’m not too happy to see one of our key pollinators missing. There is work to be done Mr. Bees!

[Alia]

Who knows. I’m not too happy to see one of our key pollinators missing

On an asidem, I've never liked the liberal war against males, at any point in their revolution. ;>

I'm slow off the mark this morning: What's "GM Crops," pls?

[Sgt_Schultze]

It’s really startling that in an effort to boost crop yields, Monsanto et al might be orchestrating the next great famine.

[Nomorjer Kinov]

If the culprit is GM crops.

[DogBarkTree]

Correct.My neighbor has spent a lot of money having the few dead bees left in the hive examined by various labs and entomologists but nothing has turned up. What is most puzzling is that the vast majority of them are just plain gone.

[ßuddaßudd]

Now thats something to ponder about...

[Dacb]

Genetically Modified

[Brilliant]

Pelosi’s fault.