Environmental Blogs, Habitat, Ecology, Endangered Species


Frog Blog - Nature Science Research Ecology

Green Mutual Fund Investing Info

Chitika

Twitter / elephantfamily

Twitter / savethefrogs

These Come From Trees Blog

Friday, July 29, 2011

Can mankind breed stronger bees? Declining populations spur research


Scientists Breeding Honey Bees Resistant to Mites and Disease


by Lori Zimmer, Inhabitat.com

Over the last five years the world’s honey bee population has been steadily dwindling, with many beekeepers citing 2010 as the worst year yet. In order to save these extremely important insects, scientists are working on breeding a new super honey bee that they hope will be resistant to cold, disease, mites and pesticides. If all goes well, the new and improved insect will continue to pollinate our crops for years to come.

Pesky mites, which have become immune to insecticides, have been terrorizing bees significantly for the last few years. According to the U.N., mites, along with viruses, have been responsible for killing 10-30% of Europe’s bees, one third of America’s bees and a whopping 85% of Middle Eastern bees! The external parasites are small and flat, and attach themselves to adult honey bees’ bodies, suck their bee blood and slowly kill them. What’s worse is that the mites also attack the bee brood. By planning the perfect attack, they enter the brood just before the larvae are sealed in together to develop. They feed on the developing bees, causing many of them to grow into weakened adults, often missing legs or wings. The mites spread further when bees from larger colonies “rob” smaller colonies.

Rather than fighting off mites, which seems to be an impossible process, scientists have focused on breeding stronger bees. Some bee populations in Canada have shown resistance to the mites, so they have been isolated, studied, and bred by the University of Manitoba in Winnipeg. Being raised so far north, they are also resilient to the harsh winters of Winnipeg, a quality that European bees lack, as many do not even survive winter.

Although not a solution to the bee crisis, these Canadian bees are strong stock, and could be the “prototype” for a stronger bee population. Since bees pollinate 90% of the world’s food crops, multiple steps must be taken to preserve them, and strengthening from within seems the first logical step.

Video of Valentina the Whale being freed, showing thanks (or joy!)

This is an inspiring video, for whether the whale is expressing gratitude or is just elated at being free and alive, it is a must see:

Natural World Search Engine; Ecology, Environment and Scientific Websites



Search Engine for Nature and Environment Websites

Best homework tool, research scientific papers, find ecology info online, nature and environment websites, environmental blogs, natural world studies, ecology and politics, green energy activism, environmental movement, clean energy, environment and ecology research.

Custom Search


A cool Blog for all Frog Lovers

Nature and Ecology Links, Environmental Books, Nature Groups




Twitter / RBKC_Ecology

21st Century Architecture

Sacred Elephants

Twitter / Vertigal