Mass Extinction of Bees in the US Caused by Parasitic Mite: Scientists Issue Alarming Findings

Mass Extinction of Bees in the US Linked to Parasitic Mite

Scientists have announced that the cause of the mass extinction of bees in the US is a type of mite called Parasitiformes.

The Alarming Disappearance of US Honey Bees

About 50 percent of US honey bees will disappear in 2022, according to the nonprofit Bee Informed Partnership. This extinction is the second largest bee extinction in the United States in history.

A Troubling Number for Pollination Needs

“This is a very worrying number, especially at a time when we need more hives to meet the pollination needs of plants in the United States,” said Jeff Bates, president of Apimondia International Beekeepers Association.

High Bee Losses In Recent Years

The organization’s data show that bee losses in 2022 were about 48 percent of the total bee population, higher than the 12-year average of 39.6 percent. These losses can be compared with the figures for 2020 and 2021, when 50.8 percent of bee colonies died out.

And University of Maryland researcher Natalie Steinhauer points out that bee numbers are still relatively stable because beekeepers make up for the shortage by finding or buying new queens. Of course, this is exhausting and costly work, and it greatly affects the state of the beekeeping industry.

The Culprit: Varroa Destructor

The main cause of bee deaths, she says, is a type of parasitic mite called Varroa destructor, which infects hives and carries many viruses.

Contributing Factors

Climate change and the widespread use of pesticides are among the other causes of bee extinction.

The Importance of Honey Bees

It should be noted that honey bees are important to the world’s agricultural sector, as they regularly pollinate more than 100 crops that people use for food, including nuts, vegetables, berries, citrus fruits and melons.

Source: TASS

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