"Vanishing Bees" a problem for gardeners and farmers.
 

"Pesky bees!"

If you've ever said that as you swat away some critter flying around
your face, the chances are that it isn't really a bee at all. In
fact, it's more likely to be a yellow jacket, a hornet or a wasp.
Domestic honey bees are relatively non-aggressive and, most important,
are vital to the successful pollination of the plants in our gardens
and a great deal more.

But it seems the humble bee could be in danger, according to an article
in the Summer 2006 edition of OnEarth, the environmental magazine
published quarterly by the Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC).

The article, by author Sharon Levy, suggests that domesticated
honeybees and their native counterparts, on which the nation depends to
pollinate billions of dollars worth of fruits, vegetable and other
crops, are disappearing thanks to pesticide use on crops and gardens
and the destruction of their habitats.

Experts interviewed for the OnEarth article ("The Vanishing Bee")
blame the widespread use of pesticides by farmers who unintentionally
poison domesticated honeybee colonies. Non-native species of parasitic
mites are also deadly to honeybees.

For these reasons, claims the author, native wild bees will become even
more important as pollinators, but they too are threatened because
their habitats-natural woodlands, shrubs and flowers-have been
decimated by relentless sprawl and development and by modern
agriculture's poor land-management practices.

One-third of the food Americans eat comes from crops that are
pollinated by bees or other creatures, including butterflies, birds and
bats, according to the article.

Without bees, many of the foods we enjoy - tomatoes, squash, peppers,
apples and pears, for example - could disappear from our tables.
Domesticated honeybees, in particular, are in steep decline. In the
1940s, American beekeepers had about 5 million colonies. Today, their
colonies number about 2.3 million - and falling - while the demand
for their services is increasing.

If you'd like to know more about this subject, go to
http://www.hrdc.org/OnEarth and find "The Vanishing Bee" header.
You can also click on a direct link when you go to my Web site
www.landsteward.org and find this column under The Plant Man heading.

Doug Barasch, editor in chief of OnEarth describes bees as "the
canaries in the coal mines," because their potential demise is a
warning to farmers and gardeners. But all is not lost (at least not
yet) and the article recommends a number of solutions. These include
limiting the use of chemical pesticides and setting aside space for
plants that nurture bees.

Regular readers of this column know that, wherever possible, I
recommend the use of organic solutions to garden and landscape
problems. The declining bee population is just one more indication
that 'going organic' isn't just something of interest to aging
hippies and "tree huggers"!

By the way, if you're concerned about the potential incursion of
so-called "Africanized" aggressive bees, most experts believe that
the continued maintenance of a thriving domestic honeybee population is
our best defense.

But what about the real pests?

If you are having a problem with hornets and yellow jackets, you'd
probably like some advice on what you should do about them. One highly
practical article, written by the experts at the North Carolina
Cooperative Extension can be found at
http://www.ces.ncsu.edu/depts/ent/no...an/horn-yj.htm and because
it's such a long address, you might prefer to click on a direct link
from this column at my Web site.

Among the defensive suggestions: coat the landing areas of hummingbird
feeders with petroleum jelly vapor chest rub to keep the yellow jackets
away. Also, make sure trash cans are kept covered at all times.

The article describes how - as a last resort - you can destroy a
colony, but suggests you might be better just to let the critters die
out naturally in the late fall, unless the nest is dangerously close to
your home or garden.

Your comments, suggestions and questions are always welcome, and I'm
happy to offer personal suggestions for any landscape or garden
problems you're having... hopefully NOT bee stings!

The Plant Man is here to help. Send questions about trees, shrubs and
landscaping to . For resources and additional
information, or to subscribe to Steve's free weekly e-mailed
newsletter, go to www.landsteward.org

"Vanishing Bees" a problem for gardeners and farmers.
 

" expounded:

http://www.hrdc.org/OnEarth

Returns a 404 Not Found error.
--
Ann, gardening in Zone 6a
South of Boston, Massachusetts
e-mail address is not checked
******************************

"Vanishing Bees" a problem for gardeners and farmers.
 

Ann wrote:
" expounded:

http://www.hrdc.org/OnEarth

Returns a 404 Not Found error.
--
Ann, gardening in Zone 6a
South of Boston, Massachusetts
e-mail address is not checked
******************************
Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC)
Change hrdc to nrdc and it will work.

"Vanishing Bees" a problem for gardeners and farmers.
 

" wrote in message
ups.com...
"Pesky bees!"

If you've ever said that as you swat away some critter flying around
your face, the chances are that it isn't really a bee at all. In
fact, it's more likely to be a yellow jacket, a hornet or a wasp.
Domestic honey bees are relatively non-aggressive and, most important,
are vital to the successful pollination of the plants in our gardens
and a great deal more.

But it seems the humble bee could be in danger, according to an article
in the Summer 2006 edition of OnEarth, the environmental magazine
published quarterly by the Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC).

The article, by author Sharon Levy, suggests that domesticated
honeybees and their native counterparts, on which the nation depends to
pollinate billions of dollars worth of fruits, vegetable and other
crops, are disappearing thanks to pesticide use on crops and gardens
and the destruction of their habitats.

Experts interviewed for the OnEarth article ("The Vanishing Bee")
blame the widespread use of pesticides by farmers who unintentionally
poison domesticated honeybee colonies. Non-native species of parasitic
mites are also deadly to honeybees.

For these reasons, claims the author, native wild bees will become even
more important as pollinators, but they too are threatened because
their habitats-natural woodlands, shrubs and flowers-have been
decimated by relentless sprawl and development and by modern
agriculture's poor land-management practices.

One-third of the food Americans eat comes from crops that are
pollinated by bees or other creatures, including butterflies, birds and
bats, according to the article.

Without bees, many of the foods we enjoy - tomatoes, squash, peppers,
apples and pears, for example - could disappear from our tables.
Domesticated honeybees, in particular, are in steep decline. In the
1940s, American beekeepers had about 5 million colonies. Today, their
colonies number about 2.3 million - and falling - while the demand
for their services is increasing.

If you'd like to know more about this subject, go to
http://www.hrdc.org/OnEarth and find "The Vanishing Bee" header.
You can also click on a direct link when you go to my Web site
www.landsteward.org and find this column under The Plant Man heading.

Doug Barasch, editor in chief of OnEarth describes bees as "the
canaries in the coal mines," because their potential demise is a
warning to farmers and gardeners. But all is not lost (at least not
yet) and the article recommends a number of solutions. These include
limiting the use of chemical pesticides and setting aside space for
plants that nurture bees.

Regular readers of this column know that, wherever possible, I
recommend the use of organic solutions to garden and landscape
problems. The declining bee population is just one more indication
that 'going organic' isn't just something of interest to aging
hippies and "tree huggers"!

By the way, if you're concerned about the potential incursion of
so-called "Africanized" aggressive bees, most experts believe that
the continued maintenance of a thriving domestic honeybee population is
our best defense.

But what about the real pests?

If you are having a problem with hornets and yellow jackets, you'd
probably like some advice on what you should do about them. One highly
practical article, written by the experts at the North Carolina
Cooperative Extension can be found at
http://www.ces.ncsu.edu/depts/ent/no...an/horn-yj.htm and because
it's such a long address, you might prefer to click on a direct link
from this column at my Web site.

Among the defensive suggestions: coat the landing areas of hummingbird
feeders with petroleum jelly vapor chest rub to keep the yellow jackets
away. Also, make sure trash cans are kept covered at all times.

The article describes how - as a last resort - you can destroy a
colony, but suggests you might be better just to let the critters die
out naturally in the late fall, unless the nest is dangerously close to
your home or garden.

Your comments, suggestions and questions are always welcome, and I'm
happy to offer personal suggestions for any landscape or garden
problems you're having... hopefully NOT bee stings!

No bee stings here. Most of the ones around are carpenter bees (wood bees we
call them). They scare hell out of folks who don't know them. They don't
sting. Actually, they are fun to watch. Especially in the spring when they
actually play with each other. They are curious critters and will drop down
a few feet from your face and look you over while hovering. That's what
scares the don't know crowd.

"Vanishing Bees" a problem for gardeners and farmers.
 

James wrote:
" wrote in message
ups.com...

"Pesky bees!"

If you've ever said that as you swat away some critter flying around
your face, the chances are that it isn't really a bee at all. In
fact, it's more likely to be a yellow jacket, a hornet or a wasp.
Domestic honey bees are relatively non-aggressive and, most important,
are vital to the successful pollination of the plants in our gardens
and a great deal more.

But it seems the humble bee could be in danger, according to an article
in the Summer 2006 edition of OnEarth, the environmental magazine
published quarterly by the Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC).

The article, by author Sharon Levy, suggests that domesticated
honeybees and their native counterparts, on which the nation depends to
pollinate billions of dollars worth of fruits, vegetable and other
crops, are disappearing thanks to pesticide use on crops and gardens
and the destruction of their habitats.

Experts interviewed for the OnEarth article ("The Vanishing Bee")
blame the widespread use of pesticides by farmers who unintentionally
poison domesticated honeybee colonies. Non-native species of parasitic
mites are also deadly to honeybees.

For these reasons, claims the author, native wild bees will become even
more important as pollinators, but they too are threatened because
their habitats-natural woodlands, shrubs and flowers-have been
decimated by relentless sprawl and development and by modern
agriculture's poor land-management practices.

One-third of the food Americans eat comes from crops that are
pollinated by bees or other creatures, including butterflies, birds and
bats, according to the article.

Without bees, many of the foods we enjoy - tomatoes, squash, peppers,
apples and pears, for example - could disappear from our tables.
Domesticated honeybees, in particular, are in steep decline. In the
1940s, American beekeepers had about 5 million colonies. Today, their
colonies number about 2.3 million - and falling - while the demand
for their services is increasing.

If you'd like to know more about this subject, go to
http://www.hrdc.org/OnEarth and find "The Vanishing Bee" header.
You can also click on a direct link when you go to my Web site
www.landsteward.org and find this column under The Plant Man heading.

Doug Barasch, editor in chief of OnEarth describes bees as "the
canaries in the coal mines," because their potential demise is a
warning to farmers and gardeners. But all is not lost (at least not
yet) and the article recommends a number of solutions. These include
limiting the use of chemical pesticides and setting aside space for
plants that nurture bees.

Regular readers of this column know that, wherever possible, I
recommend the use of organic solutions to garden and landscape
problems. The declining bee population is just one more indication
that 'going organic' isn't just something of interest to aging
hippies and "tree huggers"!

By the way, if you're concerned about the potential incursion of
so-called "Africanized" aggressive bees, most experts believe that
the continued maintenance of a thriving domestic honeybee population is
our best defense.

But what about the real pests?

If you are having a problem with hornets and yellow jackets, you'd
probably like some advice on what you should do about them. One highly
practical article, written by the experts at the North Carolina
Cooperative Extension can be found at
http://www.ces.ncsu.edu/depts/ent/no...an/horn-yj.htm and because
it's such a long address, you might prefer to click on a direct link
from this column at my Web site.

Among the defensive suggestions: coat the landing areas of hummingbird
feeders with petroleum jelly vapor chest rub to keep the yellow jackets
away. Also, make sure trash cans are kept covered at all times.

The article describes how - as a last resort - you can destroy a
colony, but suggests you might be better just to let the critters die
out naturally in the late fall, unless the nest is dangerously close to
your home or garden.

Your comments, suggestions and questions are always welcome, and I'm
happy to offer personal suggestions for any landscape or garden
problems you're having... hopefully NOT bee stings!


No bee stings here. Most of the ones around are carpenter bees (wood bees we
call them). They scare hell out of folks who don't know them. They don't
sting. Actually, they are fun to watch. Especially in the spring when they
actually play with each other. They are curious critters and will drop down
a few feet from your face and look you over while hovering. That's what
scares the don't know crowd.


Same with mason bees and orchard bees. When most of the wild honey bees
died off a few years ago here the friendly bees were the ones doing the
job plus there were flys for awhile. Our ag agent called them "bee flys"
because they had wings like a bee. We wouldn't have had cucumbers that
year if it hadn't been for the flys. You can purchase or build nest
blocks for the various bigger bees. Bumble bees do good work too but
mostly nest underground.

George

"Vanishing Bees" a problem for gardeners and farmers.
 

Sorry about the link error =/


Ann wrote:
" expounded:

http://www.hrdc.org/OnEarth

Returns a 404 Not Found error.
--
Ann, gardening in Zone 6a
South of Boston, Massachusetts
e-mail address is not checked
******************************