Are beekeepers the key to saving honeybees that are in danger?

Bees pollinate 35% of the food we eat

• Scott LaMar
  BioRecent Stories

  

  Scott LaMar has worked in both radio and television for more than four decades.
  
  Currently, LaMar is the Host and Executive Producer of The Spark program on WITF-FM, 89.5 & 93.3 in Harrisburg, Pa.
  
  Previously, LaMar was WITF TV’s Sr. Public Affairs producer and produced the station’s award-winning weekly public affairs TV program, Smart Talk.
  
  In addition to his on-air duties, LaMar has moderated political candidate debates, including those for candidates running for Pennsylvania governor and the U.S. Senate and was a regular contributor to BBC World News TV before and after the 2020 U.S. Presidential election.
  
  LaMar often emcees or moderates local events and has gone as far as California to emcee a national event.
  
  The American Society of Civil Engineers honored LaMar with their national Excellence in Journalism award in 2020. He has been nominated for five Mid-Atlantic Emmy Awards.
  
  LaMar and The Spark have been recognized throughout the Central Pennsylvania community including ADVOZ Lancaster’s “Dignity in Dialogue Award”, the South-Central Assembly’s “Regional Citizen Award” and was named a “Humanitarian Hero” by The Humane Society of the United States/Pennsylvania.
  
  A native of Coatesville, Pa., LaMar has also worked as a broadcast news anchor, sports play-by-play announcer and manager.

Bee on a strawberry flower during summer day

Aired; February 14th, 2024.

In the year that ended last April 1^st, almost half of all honeybee colonies in the U.S. didn’t survive. That was the second highest death rate on record.

Honeybees are crucial to the food supply, pollinating more than a hundred crops we eat, including nuts, vegetables, berries, citrus and melons. It’s estimated that 35% of the human diet comes from insect-pollinated plants and honeybees are responsible for 80% of that pollination.

Scientists said a combination of parasites, pesticides, starvation and climate change keep causing large die-offs.

Beekeepers have taken on the role of trying to stabilize the honeybee population.

Gary Carnes working his with honeybees

On The Spark Wednesday was Gary Carnes, President of the Capital Area Beekeepers Association and an eighth generation beekeeper pointed out he has had to change how he raises bees because of the challenges the colonies face,”I have changed my business operation compared to what my father and I used to have. And, you talk about the losses in the [19]70s. If we went into the winter here in central PA with 100 colonies, we’ll just use, for example. And we lost five colonies. The guys in the club [would say], What’s up, old man? You had a bad year. Now, if you lose 50%, most people pat you on the back. You did pretty well. And if, a dairy man or the beef producer would lose 50% of his livestock every year, they would be up in arms.”

The non-native parasitic mite Varroa destructor has devastated millions of bees over the last 20 years. Carnes said he’s constantly trying to fight off the mites.

Carnes said he takes his bees to South Carolina during the winter months for warmer temperatures and bring them back to Pennsylvania in April or May.

He indicated he refers to climate change as “crop change” because the number of crops being produced in Pennsylvania has dwindled due to a changing climate.

Over though, Carnes said he is optimistic about the future of honeybees as we are learning more about how to keep them healthy.