TheIndispensable Honey Bee

摘要

In the Nov. 2015 and January 2016 Bee Culture magazine I wrote of the 1973 report, "The Indispensable Honey Bee." The USDA and University researchers contributed much at this national conference. Reviewing the report from 43 years ago, the similarities today are as if the past has changed nothing for beekeeping or our honey bees. "Beyond producing honey and other products, probably the chief value of bees lies in their ability to pollinate over 60 agricultural crops and thus increase the production of fruit and seed. Bees are responsible for 80 to 85 percent of all crop pollination performed by insects in this country. "l stated Dr. N.P. Ralston, Assoc. Director Science and Education with the U.S. Dept. of Agriculture. Dr. Ralston acknowledged the Honey Bee Research Lab in Arizona as featuring scientists involved in "basic and applied research" of the "pollination requirements of a number of crops, factors affecting pollinating activities, the effects of pesticides, and the nutrition, biochemistry,physiology, and behavior of honey bees."2 He spoke to the attendees at this honey bee conference about research at other USDA labs or universities working to control and for the prevention of bee diseases, management of bees for pollination and honey production, "biology and management of non-Apis species of bees for pollination,"3 bee breeding and genetics, control of Nosema, controlled bee mating and stock maintenance, the development of a genetic strain of bees with a "special affinity for collecting alfalfa pollen,"4 new methods for storing honey bee semen and queens, and using "heat and cold rather than chemicals to control the wax moth, one of the beekeepers' worst problems."5