One of the mysteries of this millennium has been why bee populations, which are crucial not only to the honey industry but to modern agriculture, are being decimated worldwide.
By Amiram Cohen

Cellular technology has been suspected of causing cancer – the jury’s out on that, but now European scientists suspect it’s causing the great die-off of bees worldwide. Israeli apiarists, however, remain unconvinced.

One of the mysteries of this millennium has been why bee populations, which are crucial not only to the honey industry but to modern agriculture, are being decimated worldwide. Suspected culprits have included superbugs, viruses – and now wireless technology, which scientists say is confusing the bees’ navigation systems. Simply, they can’t find their way home to the hive.
Bee – AP

A bee.
Photo by: AP

The proliferation of cellular technology isn’t likely to be the only reason, though, said Herzl Avidor, head of the Israel Honey Council. Speaking on Tuesday at a conference at Beit Dagan on the topic, Avidor also pointed to climate change, and viruses that attack bees weakened by the changed climate.

In Israel it has been proved that the main reason for bee decimation is the sharp decrease in areas with crops producing nectar, Avidor said.

World honey production has decreased 20% in the last five years as the world bee population declined 35%, according to a report at the conference. The worst afflicted place is the United States, where bees have disappeared from a third of all hives in the last year alone. In Britain the bee population has dropped 50% in the last few years. in Israel the decline is about 30%.

http://english.themarker.com/israeli-beekeepers-wary-to-blame-great-bee-getaway-on-cellphones-1.404284