In the words of Einstein, If bees disappeared off the face of the earth, man would only have four years left to live. No more bees, no more pollination, no more plants, no more animals, finally no more man’.
You may wonder why Einstein quoted this well there is a definite reason for this great man prediction
Bees are vital to our survival and the deadly chain reaction that would take place if they become extinct would lead to a global catastrophe.
Let me breakdown further:
We all know that Every plant and animal species on earth, no matter how big or small, depends on each other to some extent for its survival. It could be bees taking pollen from one flower to another, resulting in photosynthesis to plant growth, deer eating those plants and lions eating the deer. This shows how energy is transferred from one living organism to another in terms of food
This entire food chain is interrelated and don’t forget the cornerstone of this entire chain is pollination of plants and this pollination is largely depends on honeybees.
Although bees are not solely responsible for pollination along with birds, bats and butterflies but still they manage to pollinate 70% of the crops that feed 90% of the planet. Without bees, a very destruction domino scenario would unfold.
Bees pollinate plants, which then get consumed by animals and these animals were consumed by humans. If those animals lose their primary food source automatically the animal count will dwindle and meat eating humans should say goodbye to few animals like goat, cow as their protein source. In addition to this birds that rely on bees as their main food would soon be wiped out. Without bees, most plants can’t grow or reproduce. As a result whole food chain will get break down.
So if honeybees disappear on earth humans would probably not go extinct. But our diets would still suffer tremendously. Within three months, worldwide crop yields would plunge. Your grocery store would lose about half of its produce, results the variety of foods available on our table would diminish, and the cost of certain products would surge. Within six months, most farms would have to convert to corn and wheat fields. But how long could you live only on few things like rice, bread, and oatmeal?
There are plenty of other examples: apples, avocados, onions, almonds and several types plants rely heavily on bees for pollination. The disappearance of honeybees, or even a substantial drop in their population, would make lot many foods scarce. Less production of food crops will ultimately lead to worldwide famine. Hunger and poverty will be prevail but Humans would survive—but our dinners will get limited and desertification would take place.
These things that would happen:
1.Obviously no more honey
2. Many fruits and vegetables could not grow
3. No more cotton
4.Our diets would change
5. Malnutrition
6. Cost of food would skyrocket
WHY ARE BEES DISAPPEARING?
There is an ongoing debate surrounding the disappearance of bees. It seems pretty clear that pesticides are the main culprit, however.
Pesticides
Due to green revolution , the use of pesticides in agriculture has increased exponentially. Pesticide which meant to kill harmful insects are also killing the organisms that help the world, and humans, survive. widespread use of pesticides known as neonicotinoids is having a detrimental impact on the health of bees. These pesticides affect the central nervous system of insects, resulting in paralysis and death.
A recent study from the Harvard School of Public Health found that these pesticides directly contribute to a phenomenon known as Colony Collapse Disorder (CCD). CCD is essentially the process by which honeybees spontaneously abandon their hives. When bees are exposed to pesticides like neonicotinoids, and other they go into a shock and when they go out for honey they will forget how to get back to home. It’s almost as if they are given a form of Alzheimer’s.
however, that while pesticides are likely a large part of the reason bees are dying, there are few other factors in play as well.
Parasites
Apart from pesticides, it is believed that bees are also dying from various parasites, known as Varroa mites. These are blood-sucking parasites that affect adult and young bees result in bees losing legs or wings, and causing their death.
However, bees are dying from a various combination of factors, but primarily due to the impact of human practices .Pesticides, environmental degradation and pollution, are all contributing to the alarming rate of bee deaths.
Human survival depends upon health of planet and its species, if we diminish fellow organism ultimately hurting ourselves. Unless we realize this fact we can’t contribute our best.
