Natural way the way to go and I mostly keep bees in top bar hives ... google it. If anyone is interested in this way of beekeeping just PM me It is cheap and as natural as can be.
I too keep bees and have 10 hives in our apiary down the farm the problem we had for years was the Varroa Mite but this can be controlled by placing Varroa strips in the hive but we have noticed that since last year the colonies dropped down 25% due to this problem but over the last 4 weeks we have picked up swarms so the hives are back up to full strength again. Mega.......
iatbm,Here you go Apistan and Apiguard !!!The main supplier in the UK is Thorne's Apistan Used throughout the world and recognised as the market leader in varroa control. Each pack of Apistan will treat 5 hives. Apistan is a slow release polymer strip formulation specifically designed for use in beehives for the control of varroa jacobsoni Oudemans on honeybees. Apistan efficacy is maximised if the product is used in late summer and after the main honey harvey (when the brood is diminishing). However, in the case of severe infestations Apistan can be used at any time of year, honey however must not be removed from the hive. --------------------------------------------------------------------------- Apiguard.Introduced in 1999 as a general hive tonic. Continental research has shown it to be effective against varroa, acarine and chalkbrood. Apigaurd is a Thymol based gel, very easy to apply, safe to handle and environmentally friendly. Each pack contains 10 trays, enough for 5 treatments. A 3kg tub which treats 30 hives is also available
If honey bees extinct then there will be no fertilization and a seed does not form and the plant the plant cannot expend the energy to build a fruit around that seed.
Contrary to popular belief of the Einstein statement, we would not die if there were no bees, there are plenty of other pollinators that would take over that job.
You would be surprised what a huge difference a hive of bees or no hive at all in orchard can do and what you are forgetting is that when bees die because of pesticides the other insects also die ...
good point. and i would agree with the fact that pesticides and other chemicals are killing them off.
Crop spraying is a big problem but when our local Farmer is going to do some spraying he phones me up the night before so that i can seal the entry to the hive and keep them in till after he has done his work.
Spraying is one thing and we fought it good these years but lately pesticides are applied directly to seeds and the whole plant everything around is contaminated. These pesticides work slowly and the whole plant is growing with pesticides in it so it assures "the kill" of insects. Huge problem in next years. Not the pollution from factories, etc but the pollution of our land and water with "farming chemicals" If you take a look in some rural areas the percentage of cancer is bigger than in cities. Now I wonder why is that ? ! We should not be worried just because of bees !
The bees make a huge difference in cultivation. I'm wondering if wild bees are also dying off at the same rate in areas that don't have mych pesticides?
here is a PBS documentary on this. i hope you are talking about the same thing http://www.pbs.org/wnet/nature/episodes/silence-of-the-bees/full-episode/251/