A New York Times video here:
The bees are dying and cannot be kept alive in California.
40% to 50% of insects lost to colony collapse disaster since
last year.
A new class of pesticides is seen as responsible.
An article addressing the bee collapse is here: Mystery Malady Kills More Bees, Heightening Worry on Farms March 28 2013 by M. Wines NYT http://www.nytimes.com/2013/03/29/science/earth/soaring-bee-deaths-in-2012-sound-alarm-on-malady.html?nl=todaysheadlines&emc=edit_th_20130329&_r=0
[excerpted] BAKERSFIELD, Calif. — A mysterious malady that has been killing honeybees
en masse for several years appears to have expanded drastically in the
last year, commercial beekeepers say, wiping out 40 percent or even 50
percent of the hives needed to pollinate many of the nation’s fruits and
vegetables.
A conclusive explanation so far has escaped scientists studying the
ailment, colony collapse disorder, since it first surfaced around 2005.
But beekeepers and some researchers say there is growing evidence that a
powerful new class of pesticides known as neonicotinoids, incorporated
into the plants themselves, could be an important factor. The pesticide industry disputes that. But its representatives also say
they are open to further studies to clarify what, if anything, is
happening. [end]
Majia here: Although the neonicotinoids are likely the main factor in causing the die-offs, one has to wonder whether the radiation fallout from Fukushima played a role in accelerating the process. Bakersfield had some of the highest readings, as illustrated below in the chart generated from EPA beta data.
This year has been an especially bad year for animal die offs, particularly in California:
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