I'm sorry if this letter isn't too friendly or light hearted.
These are issues that need to be addressed by all of us, not simply our governments.I for one have had my eyes opened wide on this subject.I'm guilty of using Sevin dust and spray, not thinking of all that it touches and life it effects.Not anymore, I think I'm finally seeing the 'Big Picture'.This topic goes far beyond bees and butterflies.It immediately takes a toll on our birds.It passes on down to frogs, toads and lizards.All aquatic life.What about you and me?God set a delicate balance when he created everything.Nature is also forgiving, if we give it the chance (too late for some wildlife already).While declines on this continent have only recently started to be widely documented, every other continent (with the exception of Antarctica), has seen serious decreases in pollinator numbers over the past 25 years.Around the world, almost half of all documented insect extinctions have been pollinators.Honeybee hives are collapsing at alarming rates.It sure looks like pesticides are finally getting looked into as the main cause.Okay, I could write on pollinators for several more weeks, however this is the last of the short series.The topic today is Pesticides, with a heavy slant against Monsanto and other Chemical companies.Read on, and I encourage you, when you have time to watch the videos, and read the articles.You will be in for some real eye openers (I was), and possibly slow down on any chemical use at home.Enjoy. This is Ron's Part II on Pollinators. If you missed Part I you can read it HERE .
To some people, anything that buzzes around and might possibly sting is a pest.
Gardeners know better, or we should.Many of those buzzing insects are busy moving essential pollen within or between flowers.Pollination is not just natural history.God didn't create just to create, there is a purpose behind it all.It is an essential ecological function.Without pollinators, the human race and all of Earth’s terrestrial ecosystems would not survive.Something like 90 percent of the world’s flowering plants require a pollinator to reproduce.
Animals that assist plants in their reproduction as pollinators include species of bats, butterflies, moths, flies, birds, beetles, ants, and bees.Not to mention you and me.To quote the United States Fish and Wildlife Services, “pollinators are nearly as important as sunlight, soil and water to the reproductive success of 75 to 90 percent of the world’s flowering plants.”When you think outside of the vegetable and fruit garden, you will realize that the purpose of any bloom is to produce viable seeds and a way for that plant to reproduce.Pollinators are there to help.
The decline of wild bees and other pollinators may be an even more alarming threat to crop yields than the loss of honeybees.Studies worldwide suggests, the irreplaceable contribution of wild insects to global food production.Scientists studied the pollination of more than 40 crops in 600 fields across every populated continent and found wild pollinators were twice as effective as honeybees in producing seeds and fruit on crops including oilseed rape, coffee, onions, almonds, tomatoes and strawberries.Bees feed on pollen, and crops like corn pIndeed, research shows our own Mason Orchard Bees out work honeybees 100 to 1.That is quite efficient, don't you think?Furthermore, trucking in managed honeybee hives did not replace wild pollination when that was lost, but only added to the pollination that took place.This isn't just a North American issue my friends.
Excerpts from 'The Guardian'.The new research shows for the first time the huge contribution of wild insects and shows honeybees cannot replace the wild insects lost as their habitat is destroyed. Garibaldi said relying on honeybees was a "highly risky strategy" because disease can sweep through single species, as has been seen with the varroa mite, and single species cannot adapt to environmental changes nearly as well as a group of wild pollinators."The studies show conclusively that biodiversity has a direct measurable value for food production and that a few managed species cannot compensate for the biodiversity on which we depend."Wild pollinators perform better than honeybees because they deploy a wider range of pollinating techniques, such as "buzz" pollination. They also visit more plants, meaning much more effective cross-pollination than honeybees, which tend to carry pollen from one flower to another on the same plant.(you may recall, I have mentioned in the past, that Bumblebees are the master of "buzz" pollination.)There are more than 3,500 species of bees in North America, and they are joined by thousands of species of other pollinators, including butterflies, moths, flies, wasps, ants, beetles, birds and bats.
I can't stress the importance of a healthy habitat for all of your wildlife, especially pollinators.We all need pollinators.While flowers are good for adult butterflies, larvae need host plants to lay eggs and have caterpillars grow.Specific plants, for specific butterflies.We learn more and more the dangers of pesticides and herbicides.As mentioned last week, the are designed to kill and very few are species oriented.Dust or spray for leaf hoppers and everything else gets a dose as well."Genetically Modified Seeds" are laced with herbicides and pesticides.80% of the corn we eat and the farm animals we feed comes from GMO corn.We too ingest the toxins.At what risk?
June 24, 201350,000 Bumblebees Dead After Neonicotinoid Pesticide Use in OregonAn estimated 50,000 bumblebees, representing more than 300 colonies, were found dead or dying in a shopping mall parking lot in Wilsonville, OR.It was confirmed that the massive bee die-off was caused by the use of a neonicotinoid pesticide, dinotefuran, on nearby trees.Smaller die offs have occurred as well.Neonicotinoid Pesricide, Get used to hearing that name.
You Can Read the Article Here.
Monsanto can purchase the very company that does research on bees and colony collapse.So powerful has Monsanto become, they even have political protection.I try not to get political, but when our president signs an act to protect Monsanto, and our senators and congressmen, want to do an end round...It does give one pause to think.I want what is best for our present, and our future.We wont have one without pollinators.
President Signs Act Protecting Monsanto.
Here are some more goodies.Now, this happened a few years ago, as the trend was already in place.The U.S. Agriculture Department illegally takes bees.Ag Dept. Takes Bees Illegally.
Big Chemical companies are allowed to put products on the market because they say it is safe.While pollinators continue to disappear.Not just bees, any pollinator, or other wildlife that ingests pollen or nectar, or plants and insects, feeds on the poisons already in the plant.Food is now fed to the colony or eggs are laid already tainted by the poisons.Bayer and Monsanto must be stopped and our voice has to be heard.I filled in this form and it was sent off.Americans, Let Your Congress People Know by Signing the Petition.Our Canadian friends, pester your politicians too.I never heard from Senator Carl Levin.I did get a nice form letter from Senator Debbie Stabenow's office.In a truncated version, it stated how congress is looking into the issue, but we have to be wise. As a world leader we have to feed more than 7 Billion people.At what cost I ask, and most of them don't like us to boot.
Thanks again Ron, for an insightful Part II. I have already signed the Petition to Stop Monsanto. I certainly hope it is not too late for our bees and other pollinators but admit I am quite worried.
If you enjoyed this article than you will enjoy getting Ron's weekly (free) newsletter Gardening For Wildlife . You can sign-up at his site. I have been enjoying his newsletters for several years.
Wishing Love, Peace, Health, and Wealth...and plenty of pollinators to ALL!
