For our food this season, we have the bees, not pilgrims, to thank. Bees deserve credit for 80 percent of all plant pollination of plants, says Billy Hummer, whose 4-H beekeeping project begun in 1986 begat Hummer & Son 100 percent Pure Louisiana Honey.
Bees can’t be taken for granted as Colony Collapse Disorder spreads in America and abroad. CCD is a new eco-threat involving the plummeting number of bee colonies. By late 2006, beekeepers were reporting losses of 30 percent to 90 percent of their hives, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Hummer estimates CCD-related losses in northern Louisiana at 40 percent.
Adult worker bees are vanishing at alarming rates, with possible causes including viral infections, bee mites and pesticides. Hummer dismisses speculation that cellphone signal radiation is a factor.
A Rutgers University meta-analysis of dozens of studies indicated that in areas extremely fragmented by human development, logging and agriculture, bee populations were smaller and bee species fewer than in natural or minimally disturbed areas.
Bees collect pollen from both planted crops and native plants, because crop fields don’t bloom the entire bee season. Thus, more effort must be made to avoid habitat destruction caused by roads, buildings and other development. Without a “mosaic” landscape mixing natural areas with agriculture, bees can’t thrive — and can’t carry on the pollination work needed to sustain our food supply.
In October, Beeologics, an Israeli-U.S. company, began testing, in 60,000 hives in the U.S., an agent that targets Israeli acute paralysis virus, which is transmitted by the parasitic varroa mite.
Honey itself is valued as an organic and healthy sweetener. Hummer, who produces more than 50,000 pounds of award-winning honey annually, stipulates that his honey be sold in fresh produce sections rather than condiment aisles.
“There aren’t many of us left,” the beekeeper says. And if colonies continue to collapse, the bees themselves will be a dying breed.
Healing honey — more reason to thank the bees
For centuries, honey was used as medicine.
“Now, it’s making a comeback for treating burns and hard-to-heal wounds,” Billy Hummer says. Honey’s natural sugar content enables it to remove infection and fluid by osmosis. Its acidic pH and enzymes prevent bacterial growth. By keeping wounds moist, it aids healing and minimizes scarring.
Hummer relates an example of honey power: A body found in Scotland dating to the 14th century — was amazingly well-preserved in honey. Try doing that with high-fructose corn syrup.
Support local bees
» Minimize use of pesticides.
» Monitor landscape/lawn crews.
» Plant thick plots of flowers. Your beautiful garden will help bumblebees by strengthening their immune and reproductive systems. The Xerces Society for Invertebrate Conservation suggests shrubs, perennials and herbs that nourish bumblebees, including asters, joe pye weed, sunflowers, sedums, borage and blueberries. For more information, visit xerces.org
Comments? Reach Robin at [email protected].
