The Plight of the Honeybee: A Socioecological Analysis of large‐scale Beekeeping in the United States

Abstract

This article offers a socioecological analysis of the plight of the honeybee. Departing from natural sciences explanations of the chronic health issues observed in managed honeybees the proposed socioecological analysis focuses on some of the social dimensions of the problems. Specifically, the article first looks at how the cultural disdain for insects is combined with toxic agricultural practices to make bees’ lives challenging. Then it focuses on large‐scale commercial beekeepers and links the fate of managed honeybees to their commodification. Forced to adapt to increasing environmental and economic pressures, beekeepers have developed new management practices intended to keep bees alive and produce as many as possible in order to stay in business and fulfil pollination demand. Their new concern for best management practices fails to foster global changes in agriculture, subsequently compromising their own fate with that of their bees. Honeybees and beekeepers are both affected by the current agricultural model designed for profitability rather than health. The paper builds on in‐depth semi‐structured interviews of 45 large‐scale commercial beekeepers and scientists and participant observation, beekeeping magazines and materials available online.

Honeybees Exposure to Natural Feed Additives: How Is the Gut Microbiota Affected?

“…Unfortunately, honeybee diseases have not ceased their virulence and the observed high colony mortality rate has not been reduced in some regions, like Europe. Moreover, the latest restrictions in Europe and the USA on the use of antibiotics [ 14 , 15 , 16 , 17 ] have encouraged the search for alternative approaches to antibiotics by researchers and private companies. Consequently, new strategies based on the use of plant extracts such as thymol [ 18 , 19 ], eucalyptol [ 20 , 21 ], or bacteria with probiotic potential and the use of prebiotics ingredients [ 22 , 23 ] have been proposed as possible mitigation strategies, and some products are already on the market.…”

Honeybee Exposure to Veterinary Drugs: How Is the Gut Microbiota Affected?

“…In the beekeeping sector, most of the authorizations to trade certain antibiotics have been withdrawn by the European Commission or by pharmaceutical companies themselves ( 17 , 18 ). Conversely, antibiotic administration to honeybees is permitted in many other countries, though with restriction and controls ( 19 , 20 ), and the European honey market is still threatened by antibiotic residues ( 21 ).…”

Honeybees exposure to veterinary drugs: how the gut microbiota is affected

“…In apiculture, most of the authorizations to trade certain antibiotics have been withdrawn by the European Commission or by pharmaceutical companies themselves (22, 23). Conversely, antibiotic administration to honeybees is permitted, in many other countries, even though with restriction and controls (24, 25), and the European honey market is still threatened by antibiotic residues (26).…”