“The Case of the Vanishing Honeybees: A Scientific Mystery”
by Sandra Markle.
Millbrook Press, 2014, 48 pages, Grades 3-5.
Honeybees are among the most fascinating species of insects on earth. They constantly fly from flower to flower in the warm months of spring and summer, and then return to their hives filled with nectar and pollen. Upon depositing these choice products in the hive, the bees then tirelessly go out again. For centuries, writers and farmers have marveled at their endurance and industry. The honey and beeswax generated by bees is both delicious and fragrant.
But about seven years ago, a dreadful event began to happen. The honeybees start vanishing. Beekeepers throughout the world find hives full of honey but empty of bees. The crisis is so profound that it receives the name Colony Collapse Disorder or CCD. Sandra Markle writes about this honeybee plague and the vigilant battle to overcome the disease. Her interesting book is entitled, “The Case of the Vanishing Honeybees: A Scientific Mystery.”
By late 2006, professional beekeepers begin discovering that thousands of hives have no bees. Besides being financially disastrous, the beekeepers can’t make any sense of the situation. In many instances the hives are full of honey, so the disappearance cannot be due to starvation. Also, some of the terrible diseases afflicting bees, such as American Foul Brood, are not present. The bees just seem to have disappeared.
Immediately, bee keepers and bee scientists start looking at any number of scenarios to explain this tragedy. Since a queen bee can lay more than 1,000 eggs a day, there should never be a shortage of bees. So what is happening?
First, scientists begin looking at the evolution of agriculture. Since only one or two crops are planted in many areas, researchers wonder if the bees starve after the crops blossomed. Nectar can only be found in blooming crops.
A second possibility is that the bees are simply worn out and die because they are being transported hundreds of miles from one crop to the next.
A third possible explanation is that beekeepers are feeding the bees too much sugar syrup. Since bees make and eat honey, sugar syrup simply does not nourish bees as well. This lack of nutrition can cause a much shorter life span.
Also, new invading varroa mites are found to devastate bee populations. Even cell phones are thought to be part of the problem. However, this is later discounted as a cause.
The final culprit is thought to be the development of new pesticides. Everyone hopes to find a single cause that can be easily addressed. What scientists learn is that CCD is a multifaceted problem. There will be no easy answer.
What do researchers discover that greatly reduces CCD? How does a better understanding of how the biological environment operates partially solve the problem? Have people inadvertently caused CCD? Why is it necessary to make changes in professional beekeeping practices? And finally, what can we do to keep honeybees from vanishing? To find out, go to the library and check out this outstanding book, “The Case of the Vanishing Honeybees” by Sandra Markle.
This is an excellent book for use in science classes in the middle grades. The text is well written and the photographs are outstanding. Markle presents the problems involved with CCD and shows what bee keepers and scientists are doing to solve the disease. I hope you encourage the young people in your family to read this fine book. I learned a great deal from this book, and think you will as well. Without those industrious bees, the delicious strawberries we love cannot develop. Sandra Markle’s book can help us better understand the problems involved with the vanishing honeybees.
