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The decline in the global honey bee population, which was first observed in the United States in 2006, has showed no signs of abating, in a phenomenon which has baffled researchers and beekeepers.
Data from the Department of Agriculture show an annual drop of 29 percent drop in bee colonies, compared with 36 percent decline in 2008 and 32 percent in 2007.
This affects not only honey production but around $15 billion of crops that depend on bees for pollination.
Scientists call the phenomenon “colony collapse disorder” that has led to the disappearance of millions of adult bees and beehives and occurred elsewhere in the world including in Europe.
Although experts have been unable to pinpoint the exact cause of the population decline, Mendez said the increased use of pesticides appeared to be a major cause.
“I don’t put my bees in Florida because over the last couple of years, there has been a tremendous increase in pesticide use on the orange crop to fight a disease,” he said.
