Bee Decline

Q: Why do you think bee decline is becoming such an important topic in the world today?
A: "I think one of the biggest reasons is the way it affects humans, because bees pollinate most of our food, so without honey bees we would have a lot less food, because they not only pollinate the food directly, they also increase yields. So, honey bees and native bees are really important because they pollinate the food that wildlife eat. It is the honey bees and native bees that are in decline so it affects us as humans, which makes it an important topic."

Q: What actions have you taken to prevent bee decline in your farm?
A: "In terms of beekeeping, we do a lot to monitor the health of honey bees. So one thing that bees are struggling with is called the Varroa mite, which is almost like a wood tick. They are huge in comparison to a honey bee, so it makes them feel really sick. What I do at the University of Minnesota is really encourage people to test for these Varroa mites and check for them, which can really help the health of the honey bees."

Q: What are the major causes of bee decline?
A: "It's kind of a whole combination of things that can make them sick. one of them is the Varroa mites, which makes them more prone to disease because the mites will transfer other viruses to the bees, so it makes them feel sicker. Also there various bacteria, which lowers their resistance to viruses, so they can't fight them as well. There is also a lack of foraging ground, so bees are really lacking in food, not just honey bees but native bees as well. A lot of people don't think of it, but a green lawn is like a desert for a bee because it has no food for them, so it is the lack of foraging ground, the mites, the different diseases that they already have, and the pesticides which can really hurt them."

Q: What is the difference between a native bee and a honey bee?
A: "A honey bee isn't native to the U.S, they actually came from Europe. There are different varieties of honey bees. The type we have in the U.S is the European honey bee. The native bees, like a bumble bee, are all here naturally, and not brought here by humans."

Q: What should our community be doing to help prevent bee decline?
A: "I think the more people learn about it and if they can do the planting, that's a huge thing,  just to plant so there are flower sources throughout the season. There are also certain flowers that you can plant for bees, which is a great thing to do. Also, try to eliminate pesticides, but if you have to use them, use them early in the morning or late at night when the bees aren't foraging."

Q: How did you become interested in bees?
A: "I really love science and nature, I have a science background in college, and when I was staying home with my kids, I just kept seeing all of this stuff about bees, and I missed having that when I wasn't staying at home with them, so I took a beekeeping class, not intending to become a beekeeper and I just fell in love with them."

Q: Are your bees affected by bee decline?
A: "Yes. It's a huge problem. It used to be that a queen bee can live up to two years. Now in the last couple years, you're lucky to get your queen bee to live for one year. Last summer, I had to replace five of my queens because she couldn't even live for one summer."

Q: Is there a certain area around the world that is more affected by bee decline?
A: "No. It's a global problem. There are different species of bees that are able to tolerate it more, the European Honey Bees, which we have, are most affected. Australia is doing the best, because they don't have a mite problem there yet, but otherwise, it's a global issue."