Yet the disappearance of bees is a very real threat. Most of the UK’s bumblebee species have greatly declined in recent years, with two species extinct in the UK since the 1940’s, while honeybee numbers have dropped by 50% in the last 25 years.
A major factor causing their decline is the loss of countryside wildflowers (which bees rely on for food) due to intensive farming methods, including cropland monocultures and heavy use of insecticides. Even small amounts of pesticides have been associated with a decline in the number of nest queens and increase in the number of ”disappeared” bees – those that fail to return from food foraging trips. See Pesticide Action Network UK for more information about pesticide use and bees.
Because avocados are so difficult to pollinate, Bee swarms are brought in, released and captured again at the Avocado farms! Technically this means they are using animal labour...and the vegans don't like it!
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