http://translate.google.com/translate?sl=auto&tl=en&js=n&prev=_t&hl=en&ie=UTF-8&u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.real.gr%2FDefaultArthro.aspx%3Fpage%3Darthro%26id%3D266731%26catID%3D5Lost bees 10/7/13
Of ANASTASIAS SIMITSIADI
The alarm sounding almost beekeepers across the country, as they see their production year after year to shrink without knowing the exact cause of this phenomenon. This year, in fact, been a reduction in honey production that reaches 50% in many parts of Greece.
This percentage is greater than at least the last five years, which has led professionals to seek production of comprehensive studies. As estimated by scientists, factors such as temperature increase and widespread use of pesticides in crops 'visiting' the bees lead to extinction the most important pollinator on the planet. However, they note themselves, the answer is not so simple and requires further research, as in recent years there are phenomena-such as they do not produce honeydew pines and firs in specific areas of the country that still have not been answered scientifically.
"This year the production is less than any other year, with the reduction reaching 50% in Magnesia. This phenomenon is not local but found almost throughout the country. Especially in chestnut honey produced in the reduction has reached 70% compared to last year's production.
Imagine that from 10 tonnes we took last year, this year we was barely two tons, "said beekeeper and president of the Agricultural Cooperative Beekeeper Volos, Constantine Rat. However, as stated by Mr. Rat, the same image-with the exception of Crete-presents and pine honey production, which constitutes 65% of the total honey production in Greece.
Reduction - record
The reasons for the sharp decline seen this year but also for the decreasing honey production in recent years is not due under K. Palo, with a single agent. The same opinion is shared by the veterinarian of the Beekeepers Association of Greece (OMSE) Katerina Karatasou. "A particular problem presents a rare variety, vamvakomelo, whose production in the Thessaly region has almost stopped the last 4-5 years. Beekeepers now choose not to place their hives near cotton crops, and have identified several incidents of collapse of bee colonies.
Those beekeepers placed their hives near cotton crops lost 50% -80% of the bee population, "says the vet. As she explains in cotton crops used for years neonicotinoid pesticides, which, according to many scientists, contribute to the so-called "collapse of bee syndrome", which is a symptom of the rapid loss of bees from hives. "There are cases beekeepers who have transferred 300 beehives near cotton fields and gone with a beehive and of course not honey," says the vet OMSE.
The use of neonicotinoid pesticides are so widespread that these pesticides are used up and the flowers can have a garden. According to European Union directives, have launched since July revocations compound belonging to the class of particular pesticides and their use has been suspended for two years, in order to consider whether contributing to the extinction of bees.
However, some of the neonicotinoids is so powerful that can persist in soil for more than 15 years.
Worried beekeepers
"We can not attribute the dramatic decrease in production-which in some areas of the country as Grevena and Florina exceeds 50% - the weather, as the weather was this year in many areas of bland. The situation is particularly worrying as we do not know exactly what is happening. An example is the area of Vytinas in Arcadia, where the firs in the last three years did not "give" honeydew, "says Paul Bagiatis, president of the Panhellenic Association of Beekeepers, Vasilotrofon - production of royal jelly and a beekeeper for 25 years in the area of Thessaloniki, and adds: "We need to provide funds from the state to make scientific research throughout Greece for reasons which lead to lower production. Right now all beekeepers marching blindly. "
Less nectar
As Andrew says Thrasivoulou, Professor of Apiculture at the Departments of Agriculture, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki important role,
in addition to the extensive use of neonicotinoid drugs, plays and the warming observed over the last years in Greece. This has as consequence the plants to secrete less nectar, which leads to less production of honey.
According to his teacher, Aristotle, in areas such as Chalkidiki and Thassos the last 3-4 years the trees do not produce honeydew, for reasons that scientists still do not know, which is why the phenomenon investigated. This leads to shrinkage of pine honey production, which is the main type of honey produced in the country. Apart from phenomena such as those in Chalkidiki and Thassos, especially worrying is the fact that cases of bee losses increase. "Many beekeepers from around the country are calling us and telling us that we are seeing strong declines in the populations of bees. As they tell us, they do not detect dead bees in the hives, which excludes the possibility of diseases. According to beekeepers, bees do not return to the colonies, which makes us speculate that poisoned by pesticides, "explains A. Thrasivoulou.
