Ryall, M. E. (2007, March 28). Honey bee die-off concerns local beekeepers. Washburn County Register, p. 16.

Honey bee die-off concerns local beekeepers

By Mary Ellen Ryall

I recently met Marvin Schaefer, retired beekeeper, Shell Lake. The beekeeper continues to keep a few hives, a personal honey source for his family. Paul Schaefer, his brother, is an active beekeeper and owner of Schaefer Apiaries, Shell Lake. A member of the American Beekeeping Federation for fifty years, Paul says, “Beekeepers are honey producers.”

Honey bees are disappearing due to Colony Collapse Disorder (CCD). Maryann Frazier, apiculture extension associate at Penn State University, reports, “This has become a highly significant yet poorly understood problem that threatens the pollination industry and production of commercial honey in the United States.”

The Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture states that initial studies of dying colonies revealed a number of causes. Dennis vanEngelsdorp, acting state apiarist with the department, says, “Among them are mites and associated diseases, some unknown pathogenic disease and pesticide contamination or poisoning.” Wisconsin is one of the 22 states reported to have CCD. Paul Schaefer mentioned that before this mysterious malady, most people didn’t know much about beekeepers. Now folks are concerned about pollinating honey bees and beekeeping.

Honey bees originated in Europe and came to America in the 1600s. Since the 1980s, the insect has been decimated by an invasion of varroa and tracheal parasitic mites and hive beetles. Frazier says, “The number of managed honey bee colonies is less than half of what it was 25 years ago.” Scientists are working hard to find a solution for the mites and CCD. Paul Schaefer believes “the answer may be to breed honey bees resistant to mites.”

Corn and sunflowers are treated with neonicotinoids, a pesticide derived from nicotine. Dewey Caron, University of Delaware entomologist, notes that the pesticide makes the bee fatally forgetful. Land development, loss of native and other nectaring plants, and large monoculture agricultural practices have also played a part in the decline of honey bee populations.

Kevin Schoessow, Spooner Agricultural Research Station, looks at biodiversity of plants and pollinators as a possibility for addressing honey bee decline. There are approximately 3,500 different species of native bees in America. Scientists are experimenting with bringing back some native bees as pollinators. The bumblebee is being studied as a pollinator for tomatoes. They are the only pollinators of potatoes worldwide. Butterflies, moths, bats, and some birds, such as the hummingbird, are also crop pollinators.

The Schaefer brothers have generously offered to teach youngsters and adults the art of beekeeping. Paul says, “I plan to keep on working with bees as long as I am physically able to.” If interested in learning about beekeeping, please call Marvin Schaefer at 468-7484 or Paul Schaefer at 468-7408.