Where are all our honeybees going?

In the past few years honeybee populations have been decreasing at an alarming rate. This is not only disconcerting for those of us who love honey, or for those of us who use other bee derived products in the natural treatment of patients. Honeybees produce many medicinal substances such as the highly nutritious bee pollen, anti-microbial propolis, and hormone balancing royal jelly. Even the honeybees' sting is used as an alternative treatment of multiple sclerosis and as a homeopathic remedy for itching burning inflamed skin conditions.

The greatest concern over the the demise of the honeybee relates to their role in the environment. Biologists describe honeybees as a keystone species. When building a stone arch, masons would place all the stones in line and slip the keystone into the top slot. Due to the structural design of an arch, the keystone holds it all in place. Without it the arch will collapse. Likewise, the honeybee is a vastly important species in our ecosystem - the vast majority of flowering plants are pollinated by these insects. Without these little creatures the world would most likely fall deep into wide spread famine. The total ramifications are terrifying and not totally understood. But all experts agree it would be bad, very bad.

Recently there has been some evidence for at least one possible reason for the widespread death of honeybees. Might certain pesticides, toxic chemicals designed to kill insects, be related. check out this article about the possible link - click here.