The global trade in bees is driving a pandemic that threatens hives and wild bees, according to a new report in the Science journal; the deadly disease has spread via imports of infected honeybees and stricter controls are urgently needed to protect bees from other emerging diseases. The European honeybee is used worldwide for commercial pollination of crops such as nuts and fruits, as well as honey production. As we have previously noted, South Africa's fruit exports are now at risk due a decline in bees, the country's most important insect pollinators; and research the 12 months ending April 2015 revealed 42% of US honeybee colonies died in last month.
The global trade in bees is driving a pandemic that threatens hives and wild bees, according to a new report in the Science journal; the deadly disease has spread via imports of infected honeybees and stricter controls are urgently needed to protect bees from other emerging diseases. The European honeybee is used worldwide for commercial pollination of crops such as nuts and fruits, as well as honey production. As we have previously noted, South Africa's fruit exports are now at risk due a decline in bees, the country's most important insect pollinators; and research last month revealed 42% of US honeybee colonies died in the 12 months ending April 2015.