The Bee Buzz

The buzz of a bee will send chills down the spine of almost anybody. Most of us, if we could, would trap or squash one on sight. It was interesting to read that there is a tiny parasite known as a 'vampire mite' that has been knocking out bee hives left and right. In just six months the vampire mites have managed to destroy 40 - 60 percent of the bees in the U.S.

"If honeybees ceased to exist, two-thirds of the citrus, all of the watermelons, the blueberries, strawberries, pecans and beans would disappear," said Jerry Hayes, apiary inspection chief with the state's Division of Plant Industry.

The varroa mites (vampire mites) are now immune to the chemicals once used to kill them. Hundreds of researchers across the globe are looking for a solution. "Beekeepers need something this year or next to keep their colonies going," said Jay Evans, a geneticist with the U.S. Department of Agriculture Bee Research Lab in Beltsville, Md.

So the pesky little bee is really a tremendous asset to our world. It is amazing how taking a little time to understand something can enlighten us to the fact that things are not always what they seem. If I can learn this about a bee then surely I can learn this about a person.