Bees

I have just read a thriller, "Coffin Road", by Peter May, an author I really enjoy. The title works on several levels, not least the coffin mankind is creating for itself by deceminating bee populations all over the world.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peter_May_(writer)

I wondered if May was exaggerating the science - but unfortunately not.

The thread of the story is the part "Big Pharma" is playing in "Colony Collapse Disorder",(CCD), of bees due to memory damage caused by mono culture agribusinesses use of pesticides & insecticides containing Neurotoxins like Neonicotinoids.
https://www.epa.gov/pollinator-protection/colony-collapse-disorder

Neonicotinoids damage bee brains & memory so they can no longer communicate to other bees the whereabouts of nectar sources from flowers. Pollination is a by product of the bees gathering nectar.
https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2018/apr/27/eu-agrees-total-ban-on-bee-harming-pesticides

 

Insecticides & pesticides cause destruction of habitat & floral diversity & also cause water contamination. Lobbying by the hugely powerful & wealthy Agrochemical businesses means that these dangerous chemicals are not universally banned.

http://sos-bees.org/causes/

http://sos-bees.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/04/BeesInDecline.pdf

The situation in the USA is particularly bad - between 30 - 50% of bee populations are dying every year.
https://abcnews.go.com/US/40-decline-honey-bee-population-winter-unsustainable-experts/story?id=64191609

On top of all of this the poor bees have to cope with parasites like Varroa Mite. No wonder bee populations are suffering.
Parasites - https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Varroa_destructor

The thing is if we don't do something about all of this we are the ones who are going to be under threat. Our species depends on bees pollinating every single fruit, vegetable & plant. The very real danger is that bees will become extinct & so will we. All animals, including us, depend on plants.

Actually it isn't just bees. We have presided over the plummeting loss of insect species worldwide.
https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2019/feb/10/plummeting-insect-numbers-threaten-collapse-of-nature

Our meddling in the balance of the worlds ecology is really coming home to roost. The trouble is it has already happened - on our watch & we are sleepwalking towards real destruction. No one knows when the tipping point is.