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Greetings and Salutations;<\/div>\n
Sigh….the world of the beekeeper is full of odd moments these days. \u00a0 \u00a0The problems with bees being killed off by environmental pressures continues, and hives across the land are being exterminated. \u00a0 \u00a0The stupidity of people continues to be amazingly obviouse, \u00a0and is costing the bees huge amounts.<\/div>\n
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\n![\"Robot-Bees-Spraying-For-Zika.jpg\"](\"https:\/\/beemandave.com\/beemanblog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/10\/Robot-Bees-Spraying-For-Zika-1-300x196.jpg\")
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<\/div>\n<\/div>\nFor example, \u00a0 a little while ago, \u00a0there was a burst of fear over the appearance of the Zika virus bearing mosquitoes in the United States. \u00a0 \u00a0Well, \u00a0the bright souls in South Carolina hopped into their spray trucks, \u00a0 loaded them up with insecticides and spent days running around, \u00a0pumping toxins into the air. \u00a0 The end result? \u00a0THey probably killed some mosquitoes, \u00a0 but, they also killed millions of bees in the area! \u00a0 \u00a0The really sad thing is that if they had adjusted the TIME that they sprayed, \u00a0many of these bees would still be alive. \u00a0 Here is\u00a0a discussion about this debacle\u00a0<\/a><\/div>\n
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Other states are taking saner steps. \u00a0 For example, \u00a0Hawaii has just \u00a0declared honey bees an endangered species<\/a>! \u00a0 With luck, this will spread throughout the States, \u00a0and perhaps even get to a Federal Level.<\/div>\n
Other states are taking saner steps. \u00a0 For example, \u00a0Hawaii has just \u00a0declared honey bees an endangered species<\/a>! \u00a0 With luck, this will spread throughout the States, \u00a0and perhaps even get to a Federal Level.<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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There are some folks that believe that Technology can fix the problem too. \u00a0 \u00a0I ju![\"robot-bee-robobee_11573.jpg\"](\"https:\/\/beemandave.com\/beemanblog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/10\/robot-bee-robobee_11573-300x207.jpg\")
st ran across\u00a0THIS STORY<\/a>\u00a0 \u00a0discussing the concept of creating millions of small robots that will take over the job that bees do to pollinate plants! \u00a0 Now, \u00a0I am certainly a friend of technology, \u00a0but, to me, \u00a0this is, perhaps more offensive than half the nonsense that spews from The Donald’s, \u00a0and his surrogate’s mouths! \u00a0 \u00a0Why do I dislike this so much. \u00a0Well, \u00a0first off, \u00a0I am a beekeeper. \u00a0 I do not do this because I look upon the girls as a mechanical resource that I can make a ton of money from. \u00a0I do it because I admire their ecosystem, \u00a0their success, and the calming spirit that drives them. \u00a0 Bees are amazing examples of a hive mind, \u00a0and have many positive aspects. \u00a0 \u00a0I have to say that I do like honey too, \u00a0of course!<\/div>\n
st ran across\u00a0THIS STORY<\/a>\u00a0 \u00a0discussing the concept of creating millions of small robots that will take over the job that bees do to pollinate plants! \u00a0 Now, \u00a0I am certainly a friend of technology, \u00a0but, to me, \u00a0this is, perhaps more offensive than half the nonsense that spews from The Donald’s, \u00a0and his surrogate’s mouths! \u00a0 \u00a0Why do I dislike this so much. \u00a0Well, \u00a0first off, \u00a0I am a beekeeper. \u00a0 I do not do this because I look upon the girls as a mechanical resource that I can make a ton of money from. \u00a0I do it because I admire their ecosystem, \u00a0their success, and the calming spirit that drives them. \u00a0 Bees are amazing examples of a hive mind, \u00a0and have many positive aspects. \u00a0 \u00a0I have to say that I do like honey too, \u00a0of course!<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
Replacing bees with technology has several problems for me.<\/div>\n
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- It sounds as if it is an excuse for wiping a species off the planet…and allows us to avoid responsibility for that event. \u00a0We are called to be good Stewards of the Earth, \u00a0and killing off a species through greed or stupidity is NOT being a good Steward!<\/li>\n
- I do not think that the micro-robots being discussed will be able to do the job of pollination as well as bees perform it today. \u00a0Given a field of flowers, \u00a0will the robots be able to collect pollen and pollinate other flowers to an adequate percentage.<\/li>\n
- There are power limitations that will cause problems. \u00a0 \u00a0This includes processing power – in that it takes a chertain level of knowledge \u00a0to be able to navigate to a target, \u00a0perform an action, \u00a0and return to home base. \u00a0 This also takes a fair amount of actual power. \u00a0 Bees get their energy from digesting honey and nectar. \u00a0 What will provide this energy for the micro-robots?<\/li>\n
- There is the reliability issue. \u00a0 Bees are fairly tough organisms. \u00a0 Can these micro-robots approach that? \u00a0 What about the issues of the environment, \u00a0such as dust, \u00a0or rain? \u00a0 \u00a0How many of these micro-robots will be destroyed by less than perfect conditions.<\/li>\n
- This brings up the issue of costs. \u00a0 Micro-Robots cost something to create. \u00a0 Even if this is less than a penny each, \u00a0 it will be a significant cost to the farmer…raising our food costs further. \u00a0 \u00a0Honey Bees, though, \u00a0are self-replicating. \u00a0 The only thing the beekeeper needs to do to keep a supply growing in their Apiary \u00a0is to provide food, \u00a0water and a Queen. \u00a0Even if the keeper replaces that queen every three years, \u00a0that will be less than $10\/year. \u00a0 Will micro-robots be that cheap? \u00a0I rather doubt it.<\/li>\n
- An important part of the bee’s job is to create honey. \u00a0 \u00a0I find it VERY unlikely that the micro-robots will be able to do this.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\nSo…I suggest that we, as a species, \u00a0would be better served by cleaning up our environment, \u00a0and making it more friendly to the bees, \u00a0 than chasing solutions that will cost humanity money and resources, \u00a0and likely not work as well as a natural tool.<\/div>\n<\/div>\nPleasant dreams!<\/div>\nBee Man Dave<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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