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Holy fucking shit:
Under attack from a Southeast Asian parasite, vast numbers of the creatures are dying off, worried industry experts say. More than 50 percent of the bees in California, critical to the success of the Golden State's almond crop, have died during the past six months. Frantic growers there have sent out the call around the world, including Florida, for hives.
Not only California is suffering the ravages of the determined pest. As many as 40 percent to 60 percent of the bees nationwide have perished during the same six-month period, experts say.
Under attack from a Southeast Asian parasite, vast numbers of the creatures are dying off, worried industry experts say. More than 50 percent of the bees in California, critical to the success of the Golden State's almond crop, have died during the past six months. Frantic growers there have sent out the call around the world, including Florida, for hives.
Not only California is suffering the ravages of the determined pest. As many as 40 percent to 60 percent of the bees nationwide have perished during the same six-month period, experts say.
Full text of article here
Apparently the vampire mite has become resistant to the pesticides commonly used to kill it, and is now kicking ass and taking names.
I guess people aren't freaking out to badly - or else I would be reading about this on CNN instead of Common Dreams. But aren't honey bees kind of a big link in the ecosystem because they pollinate all of those flowering plants? It seems like it should be a little disruptive for 50-60% of them to be taken out in a 6 month time frame.
