http://www.vox.com/2015/3/9/8174949/bee-decline-parasites-pesticides-flowers
Honeybees and wild bees alike are mysteriously dying off all over the world. And scientists have long struggled to pinpoint why, exactly, that is.
Some experts cite diseases and invasive parasites like the Varroa destructor mite, introduced from Asia and afflicting US honeybees. Others point to a new class of pesticides called neonicotinoids that mess with the nervous systems of insects. Still others blame the loss of wild habitat, as diverse flowers are replaced by suburban lawns or farms with just a few crops, impoverishing bee diets.
But the best explanation may be that it's not just one thing hurting the bees — it's lots of different things working together, often in unexpected ways.
Honeybees and wild bees alike are mysteriously dying off all over the world. And scientists have long struggled to pinpoint why, exactly, that is.
Some experts cite diseases and invasive parasites like the Varroa destructor mite, introduced from Asia and afflicting US honeybees. Others point to a new class of pesticides called neonicotinoids that mess with the nervous systems of insects. Still others blame the loss of wild habitat, as diverse flowers are replaced by suburban lawns or farms with just a few crops, impoverishing bee diets.
But the best explanation may be that it's not just one thing hurting the bees — it's lots of different things working together, often in unexpected ways.
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