Up to 70% of US bee colonies could be lost due to disease, pesticide poisoning
Bees are becoming infected with parasites and even disappearing from their hives
Bee numbers in the US are declining thanks to disease, starvation, and more. Photo: ShutterstockBees are facing a serious problem. They are becoming infested with parasites, sprouting deformed wings, and even harming their own young.
This year is expected to be particularly bad, with researchers at Washington State University in the US predicting that up to 70 per cent of honey bee colonies in the US could be lost due to various issues like disease, starvation and pesticide poisoning.
For those who aren’t farmers or beekeepers, these statistics can feel alarming.
Even scientists don’t fully know what causes colony collapse disorder, a problem that has grown significantly since the mid-2000s.
However, the decline in bee populations is more related to modern farming practices than nature reacting against them.