Disappearing Pollinators By Ed Powers

Picture Courtesy University of Leeds These hard-working animals help pollinate over 75% of our flowering plants, and nearly 75% of our crops. Often we may not notice the hummingbirds, bats, bees, beetles, butterflies, and flies that carry pollen from one plant to another as they collect nectar. Yet without them, wildlife would have fewer nutritious berries and seeds, and we would miss many fruits, vegetables, and nuts, like blueberries, squash, and almonds . . not to mention chocolate and coffee…all of which depend on pollinators.  But they are disappearing and at an alarming rate.  While all pollinators are impor tant, we will be focusing on honeybees (though many of the causes relate to all pollinators not just honey bees). Picture Courtesy National Audubon Society There are a number of pressures on pollinator populations, but there is lack of information about their relative importance or to what extent they have led to the declines we are now seeing. Possible causes include The