Over 40% Bee Hives died in 2014, the second highest loss rate in nine years, according to the survey done by the federal. In simpler equation, more than two out of five American honeybee colonies died last year with peak during summer.
The findings shocked epidemiologists that the bees were dying more in summer than in winter. The more than 40% Bee Hives that was lost sound alarming and the researchers conducting the study sensed that something is wrong with the agro-ecosystems, the Associated Press reported.
"What we're seeing with this bee problem is just a loud signal that there's some bad things happening with our agro-ecosystems," said study co-author Keith Delaplane at the University of Georgia. "We just happen to notice it with the honeybee because they are so easy to count."
The recent findings on more than 40% Bee Hives death were discovered by the scientists when they found that there 27.4 percent of beekeepers colonies were lost during summer, a higher rate than it was in 2013.
While the study was conducted, a federal survey conducted by Bee Informed Partnership and the Apiary Inspectors of America have seen that states including Oklahoma, Iowa, Illinois, Maryland, Delaware, Pennsylvania, Maine and Wisconsin have lost over 60 percent of their bee hives since April 2014, Yahoo added.
Although the result of more than 40% Bee Hives death was not a good figure, Delaplane and study co-author Dennis vanEngelsdorp of the University of Maryland assured that the numbers are not as terrible as it sounds. The scientists said that even after a colony dies, beekeepers will split and begin new colonies.
But what happened that more than 40% Bee Hives died in U.S.?
Gizmodo reported that more than 40% Bee Hives died probably due to Colony Collapse Disorder, or CCD. CCD is the result of external factors effect on the bees- parasites, pesticides, pathogens, and nutritional problems.
Deaths can also be attributed to the attack of fungi, mites, or viruses.
In the long term, the effect of over 40% Bee Hives death is something that must be taken seriously. If this continues, that means that there will be lesser produce for us. Bees play very important role in pollinating the crops from tomatoes, to onions and berries.
