To many humans, fewer bees buzzing around Maryland might seem like a good thing. But when placed against the backdrop of staggering honeybee die-offs nationwide, it’s clear that we’re in a position to get stung by the losses.
According to preliminary results from the Bee Informed Partnership (yes, there’s really a Bee Informed partnership), Maryland lost 60 percent of its bee population in 2014-15. Only Iowa and Oklahoma had larger losses. And the die-off is becoming more pronounced in the summer months, when conditions are usually better for bees’ livelihoods.
Even though they’re a nuisance, bees have all sorts of uses because of their pollination abilities. University of Maryland’s resident beekeeper, Dennis vanEngelsdorp, tells CNBC that bees won’t go extinct. But beekeepers will find it harder to make a living, meaning the bee issue is actually a human problem.
