Unfortunately there occurred, somewhat less than one hundred years ago, a disaster that threatens the untold millennia of success enjoyed by the society of the Honey Bee.
Another ancient creature evolutionarily isolated in a remote part of our planet was given the key to Pandora’s Box and ventured forth to decimate the unprotected populations of the Honey Bee in the rest of the world. Time has run out for the Honey Bee and now cannot survive without the assistance of the very species that has brought it to the brink of extinction. Dramatic, inflammatory prose but so true, the Varroa Destructor Mite threatens the extinction of all that mankind has achieved by the simple act of killing off the Honey Bee.
Early in the 20th century Honey Bees were transported to the far reaches of Russia to pollinate crops. While there they picked up the Varroa Destructor Mite and transported it back to Europe. In just over one hundred years it has spread throughout the world leaving only Australia free. In itself the Mite is a small irritation to the honey bee but it is the diseases it vectors that cause the trouble. Essentially these diseases shorten the life span of the winter honey bee which has the effect of reducing the numbers of bees in the colony just when they are gearing up to start the new season. Net effect no nursery bees to bring the Queen into lay so no more bees and another colony dies.
Everything a human needs to survive is pollinated by the honey bee. Consider no pollination of grass seed = no grass = no fodder for our food animals = no leather for shoes. Further, no pollination on a massive scale for the wheat/rice fields of the world = mass starvation, biblical famines, diseases rife, Armageddon…
Enter the Beekeeper! Join me as I relate my adventures as I strive to do my small part to protect and promote the cause.
