The number of wild and domesticated bees in the us has dropped considerably in recent years. In some parts of the country, nearly 90 per cent of the bees are estimated to have disappeared. "The biggest reason behind the decline is a bee-killing parasite, known as the varroa mite, which infests the bee hives and preys on their larvae. The mite is killing all the honeybees in the northern part of the country," says Ernie Miner, a professional beekeeper. The decline of the honeybee in the us has effected agribusiness very badly. Without wild honeybees to pollinate their fruit crops, growers have little choice but to hire bees from beekeepers. By pollinating everything from grasslands that feed the nation's cattle and sheep, to horticulture and vegetable crops, the bees make a big contribution to the country's economy and a sharp decline in their population is bound to have adverse effects.
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