The bees at risk from biodiversity loss

The population of honeybees is falling dramatically, primarily due to loss of plant diversity. So says a French study published this week 'Biology Letters', which reflects the BBC.

The scientists found that bees that feed on pollen producing various types of plants have a stronger immune system than those that feed on one species. Bees need to have a good immune system to sterilize food for their colony.

Another study concluded that both bees and wild flowers, some are reducing their population by leaps and bounds. And two years ago, another study led by British scientists and Holland warned that the diversity of bees and other insects was decreasing as it reduced the diversity of plants from which they fed.
Prevent infections in their hive

Now, a team led by Cedric Alaux at the National Institute for Agricultural Research in France, in Avignon, shows a possible link between dietary variety of bees and the strength of your immune system.

Insects that fed with a mixture of five different types of pollen had higher levels of glucose oxidase (GOX) to bees eat pollen from one flower type, even if it had higher protein content.

Glucose oxidase Bees produce honey and to protect food from microbial larvae. So protect your colony from possible infection.
Significant economic losses

Furthermore, a study by the University of Reading suggests that the bee population in the UK is declining twice as fast than the rest of Europe.

In the U.S. the problem is even worse. There, entire colonies have disappeared. The consequences for the economy are evident at both the British and U.S. government have begun to invest in research to find out why this is.

In the U.S. the loss of bees has been found in hives are transported to various parts of the country to pollinate important crops. For example, lead to a plantation of bananas, which have only one type of pollen. Furthermore, in the U.S. the problem could also result from a loss of diversity of bees.

In France, the government has launched a project to plant flowers in an attempt to stop the decline of their bees.