The principal cause is a tiny mite that has invaded commercial hives, carrying viruses that infect the bees and kill them. Cambridge University, for instance, has reported that commercial bees, which are different from Europe’s wild bees, have been weakened by their lack of genetic diversity. It has far fewer commercial bees, but those it has are related and still intermix with its wild bees. Europe’s green movement isn’t interested in mites, or viruses, or Cambridge University’s findings on genetic varieties. The public understands (and sends donations on) simple messages, and what can get simpler than ‘pesticides are killing bees’?

Source: Standard Digital March 09, 2021 17:33 UTC