The Ultimate Bee Killer: A Guelph Discovery

Kaila Ritchie

Recently Ernesto Guzman, a professor here at Guelph, found new information regarding the decline in bee population. Vorroa mites were claimed to be the leading cause but until recently this was not confirmed. Both primary and secondary sources are available each presenting Ernesto and his team’s findings with a slightly different approach.

Right off the bat both primary and secondary sources introduce the problem at hand that commercial honey bees are dying at an alarming rate. Both make it clear that there is a declination in bee population and that it is a serious issue that needs to be dealt with. Although they both start off with the same concepts they each take slightly separate directions in presenting the data, but ultimately they return with the same concluding results.

The introduction to both articles declares the dilemma that the population of bees is decreasing at a concerning rate each season. Each article presents statics and percentages to prove the drop in population size, allowing the reader to understand the circumstances. The primary article has more statistics proving that the problem is getting worse over time and that this is something that has become a problem all over the country and not just in one particular location. This is important when acknowledging the seriousness of the issue. Although the secondary article has statistics and facts there is not as many. Also the data given are the most extreme examples. Therefore there is not enough factual evidence for the reader to realistically understand the problem. This can be misleading to the audience either under or over exaggerating the reality of the issue.

After the introduction the primary source goes over all the possible contributors to the declination of bee population focusing on the prediction of varroa mites. However the secondary article does mention the prediction of varroa mites it does not mention any other possible causes until the very end where there is little mention of climate conditions limiting food supplies. The primary source also explains how climate conditions, disease, and insufficient food supply are contributing. It is important that the reader knows that there is more than one reason for the dwindling bee population. This allows them to see the big picture of the situation. There are other contributing factors that have all lead to this drop in population and this is not very well emphasizes in the secondary article. This article skips to Ernesto Guzman’s findings confirming the prediction that varroa mite infestations are the main source for the increasing deaths of honey bees.

Before the primary article gets to the results of the study, the means of the whole operation are explained; procedures and methods of gathering information, different variables being tested, how subjects were selected and so on. Having this information on the process only further enhances the readers understanding of the study and the purpose behind it. The secondary article mentions very little on the process of the study. There is not enough information for the reader to comprehend the experiment or understand what has been done in order to reach a conclusion. After the study is thoroughly explained in the primary source the conclusion is made. Unlike the secondary source the primary source explains other culprits and to what degree they are affecting the change in population as well. This is vital in understanding why the population is decreasing at such a rapid rate. The secondary source only says that the varroa mites were the main reason for bee deaths. There is no mention of any other discoveries made from the experiment which are just as important. For without knowing the other contributors and the affect they are having there can be no comparisons made to confirm that varroa mites are responsible for the most deaths.

On the other hand the secondary source begins to explain what is being done about the problem now. For example, importing bees from southern regions and the problems that comes along with that. Another one is pesticides to kill off the mites and the positives and negative aspects of this solution. Knowing what is being done about decreasing the death rate is extremely relevant and is only touched on in the primary source. When a reader knows there is a problem and that the cause has been confirmed it is reassuring that there is methods being taken place and/or being tested to try and help the situation. This is good because all-in-all articles are written for the readers.

Both articles are clear and concise about what the problem is and the result of the study that the ultimate bee killers are varroa mites. Obviously the primary source has a lot more information about the study as well as the results versus the secondary source. The primary source is great for a brief summary of the study and grasping the basics. However the primary source involves a much more detailed explanation of the study and the results. As well as why the results are what they are and what we can conclude from them. Therefore for research purposes the primary source is much more useful and insightful. But more importantly both articles clearly state that this is an issue that has been problematic for some time and that Guelph researchers were able to make the first step forward in fixing the problem by confirming the major culprit for Canada's dying bees.

Reference List:

Clarke, Brennan. "B.C. Apiarists Stung by Bee Deaths ." Globe and Mail (2010): Web. 21 Sep 2010. .

Adriana Correa-Benitez, Ernesto Guzman-Nova, Janine McGowan, Leslie Eccles, Yireli Calvete, and Paul G. Kelly. "Varroa destructor is the main culprit for the death and reduced populations of the overwintered honey bee (Apis mellifera) colonies in Ontario, Canada." Apidologie 41.4 (2010): 443-450. Web. 21 Sep 2010. .