Bumble Bees

[introspective]

I was just observing a bee and think here might be a reason why they're losing so many bees. Too many hybrids and not enough pollen to keep the bees busy. In order to respond to the constant complaining about 'pollen' and 'sneezing' and 'their allergies' they developed a bunch of pollen-free plants - and perfumeless plants. We need it to keep things going. Okay, talk to you later.

[RPI Epeeist]

Besides... if someone's allergic to pollen... Darwin would say leave them be... can't have a race of humans that can be brought down by a freakin flower

[the maple epee]

Sadly just another case of humans ****ing with nature and messing everything up. People are truly pigs...

[amyoftherealm]

Originally Posted by the maple epee

People are truly pigs...

I'm getting an image from Animal Farm

[introspective]

You are both absolutely correct. We have to learn how to live with nature, rather than fight nature by trying to control all of it .

[RPI Epeeist]

ABSOLUTELY! But I'll tell you how! Evolution! We stop catering to the weak ones (sucks i know... but its for the good of the species) and if they grow stronger and over come it then our race becomes stronger, if they don't... well then our race becomes stronger

[introspective]

well, I don't think we have to go that far. Actually if we just left one another and the bugs of the world alone, we'd be okay.

[the maple epee]

Exactly. It benefits humanity to care for the environment.

[RPI Epeeist]

Originally Posted by introspective

well, I don't think we have to go that far. Actually if we just left one another and the bugs of the world alone, we'd be okay.

Well... same thing... my way of saying it was just a little more harsh and unnecessary

[Rabid Monk]

Seems to me to be a case of genetic engineering/biological tampering gone wrong.

They should forget all about the birds and the bees, and make me a hot dog that will get its own ketchup!

[fences_like_a_lemur]

Originally Posted by introspective

We have to learn how to live with nature, rather than fight nature by trying to control all of it.

But that takes all of the fun out of bioengineering and biochemistry...

Originally Posted by Rabid Monk

They should forget all about the birds and the bees, and make me a hot dog that will get its own ketchup!

Seconded!

[Beloit Fencer of Old]

Uh...I'm not a biologist, but I don't think the pollen is necessary for bees to survive...I think it's the nectar they take...the pollen is just along for the ride. And even IF it were the pollen, what about the recent stories about how allergies are spiking because of the ABUNDANCE of pollen lately?

The bees have a die-off every decade. This one happens to be worse than normal. But they have always bounced back in the past. Yes, the "killer bee" or "Africanized Bee" problem has impacted their habitat in the South, but that's a different problem entirely. Any biologists or entemologists on fnet?

[the maple epee]

Originally Posted by fences_like_a_lemur

But that takes all of the fun out of bioengineering and biochemistry...

Don't even get me started, man...

[fences_like_a_lemur]

Originally Posted by Beloit Fencer of Old

Uh...I'm not a biologist, but I don't think the pollen is necessary for bees to survive...I think it's the nectar they take...the pollen is just along for the ride. And even IF it were the pollen, what about the recent stories about how allergies are spiking because of the ABUNDANCE of pollen lately?

I for one say that we get rid of pollen no matter the consequences! We've already screwed this planet enough, so let's finish the job and move on...I'm already tired of this stupid lump of rock.

Originally Posted by the maple epee

Don't even get me started, man...

*pulls out car keys sticks them in Maple's ear while trying to turn it* Stupid ignition...

[introspective]

I'm not. We need pollen. And, although bees don't need pollen they carry it on themselves, which is the key to cross pollenation. Okay, I'll go back to the "Lumpy Thread" and fix it.

[Inquartata]

What an apollen thread.

[Gav]

Originally Posted by Beloit Fencer of Old

...the pollen is just along for the ride. And even IF it were the pollen, what about the recent stories about how allergies are spiking because of the ABUNDANCE of pollen lately?

It's more complex than that. You would be referring to the a specific allergy to Pollen - hayfever? The human immune response is complex and can be triggered by various factors. Whether ... say... hayfever is being caused by more pollen is something that is up for discussion.

Any biologists or entemologists on fnet?

Yeah me - I am (or rather was) a Biologist.

This is worse than normal. And it's so bad that there is an increasing amount of research being conducted to see why it is happening. I am no apiarist but I've seen a fair number of articles appearing in agricultural and scientific circles.

[introspective]

Gav, that was a good answer. My ex studied Botony at Uh, but we haven't seen each other for awhile. But when you bring up the immune system, here's my take on this and it's strictly from the lay perspective. To an extent; pollen can help bolter the immune system, but at some junction in our medical history [somewhere in the late 1960's] I think we went overboard in providing antiallegens for those with the sniffles, thus weakening our overall immune system, leaving it open to new and more difficult disease processes. They say that Honey [the bees gift to us] is an anti-bacterial and can be used in nature to ward off infections.

[Miglin]

I would argue that man's greatest asset is his ability to shape nature in whatever way befits him.

[Gav]

Originally Posted by Miglin

I would argue that man's greatest asset is his ability to shape nature in whatever way befits him.

And it's also one his greatest flaws.