Disappearing Honeybee

Do you run away when you hear a bee buzzing? Many people do. A bee sting hurts and some people are allergic to bee venom. But did you know that bees are very important to humans? Honeybees do more than just make honey. They fly around and pollinate flowers, plants, and trees. Without bees, our fruits, nuts, and vegetables can’t grow. Have you seen or heard a honeybee lately? Bees are mysteriously disappearing in many parts of the world. Most people don't know about this problem. Some American beekeepers lost 80% of their hives from 2006-2008. Bees in Italy and Australia are disappearing too.

This is a serious problem. Can you imagine never eating fruit? What about almonds? Without honeybees, food prices will increase. The poorest people won’t be able to afford food.

Donating money is the most important thing humans can do to save the honeybees. Scientists need money to find the causes of this problem. Some scientists think climate change is the reason. Others think *pesticides are killing the bees. Beekeepers transport their hives from place to place in order to pollinate plants year-round.

Not everyone has money to donate regularly. There are other ways to help the honeybee. Spread the word by telling your friends and family about the problem. Tell your teacher about the disappearing bees too. Maybe your class can write a letter to the government.

*pesticide: a chemical substance used to kill insects and small animals that destroy crops