Bumble bees are artificially produced to pollinate food crops.
This ‘industry’ is worth 100’s of millions of euros.
It’s poorly regulated.
They are traded across continents.
Bees escape into the wild.
Spread disease.
Breed with native bees.
They are suffocated when no longer of use.
Legislation on the so called health of commercial colonies imported does not cover screening for bumblebee specific parasites – only honey bee specific parasites.
These boxed colonies are supplied with artificial nectar and pollen supplies to supplement the bumble bee diet when and if required. This too has the potential to spread disease.
In Ireland these artificially produced bumble bees are imported from one of a number of producers based on mainland Europe but the bumble bees imported are not necessarily the same subspecies of bumble bee native to Ireland and certainly weren’t going back a decade or so.
They mate with native species possibly diluting the traits that these native species have developed to enable them to thrive in the local ecosystem.
And now the real kick in the crotch – Bumble bee colonies produced and traded for pollination services are ‘disposed of’ after 8 weeks.
THE INDUSTRY RECOMMENDED PROCEDURE:
Wait until evening until all of the female workers have returned from foraging to their ‘box’ home. FOOD TAKEN AWAY. Locked in the box. Box placed in a plastic bag sealed with duct tape.
BUMBLE BEES LEFT TO DIE SLOWLY. Maybe refrigerated maybe not. After 7 days dispose of the colony as with other ‘AGRICULTURAL WASTE’.
So colonies of bumble bees become agricultural waste.
This is the truth of how we treat these vital beautiful creatures.
Indeed academics/researchers also purchase these colonies for research purposes and the exact same treatment and outcomes occur.
Does it sit right?
Isn’t it uncomfortable?
Is there nothing we won’t bastardise, commercialise and degrade?
We have brought bees and nature to the brink.
Natural systems we depend upon to exist.
Unnatural systems such as this compound the damage.
Here at World Bee Sanctuary we call this out loudly – why don’t others?
That is why you need us.
We don’t duck the hard stuff!!!
info@worldbeesanctuary.org
World Bee Sanctuary, Coolafancy, Co. Wicklow, Y14 EA89, Ireland.
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