Playing a crucial and highly overlooked role
Albert Einstein might have been too pessimistic when he stated that human king will go extinct in four years after bees will be vanished from Earth. There is though a truth's seed in his words. That process might be longer, but in fact our lives without the existence of bees will be a nightmare and a dead end road. Unless the robot bees that are being developed will successfully replace the stingy natural ones.
Many reports in the last decade have triggered a warning signal about both wild and domestic bees reducing drastically their number. Their possible extinct is caused by multiple factors and it is real. Although for many of us such tinny insects are only honey and stings providers in reality their role is much more important and affects the life of many plants, animals and of course ours.
Their main result from gathering the flowers pollen from which honey is produced is the cross pollination. They are not the only participants at this vital task, but the most effective. 70% of the plants that provide us with food are pollinated by these stingy ones that we are afraid of and that's where their death very often comes.
In order to save crops from other insects farmers use pesticides that are very harmful for bees. When exposed to such chemicals their internal "gps navigation" is not functioning anymore turning bees into blind wanderers who simply "forget" their way home. I remember when my grandpa, who was a beekeeper, explained to me that they can fly away for up to 5 km and even more in search for pollen and they always remember the course to their hive.
Even when relocated bees pin their new home on the map and thus find the way home every time. Such pesticide though, like neonicotinoids are messing with their track system and end up lost and die.
Another factor that contributes to their possible extinction is not a new one, but is an important cause also. Many of the world bees are affected by Varrao mites, some parasites that suck blood from insects and develop mostly in the bee colonies. The number and effects of such parasites is increasing drastically in the last years. Bees affected by such parasites are loosing their wings and legs and ultimately die.
Without bees the vegetation of our planet would mostly consist of mushrooms, lichens, muscles, grass, algae and would not provide the vital minimum necessary for our food, but also for most animals. Fruits like apples and cherries and veggies like cucumbers, leafy greens, avocado and broccoli would be just a memory if bees were extinct. Unfortunately we can not rely only on beetles and butterflies to pollinate such plants. Not too mention the sweet and nutritious honey that we will miss also.
Not only us would be affected by their extinction, but many other animals like herbivores. If herbivores will disappear from the face of the Earth an important number of carnivores that depend on their meat, among them being some meat lover humans will be drastically affected also. Eagles, vultures, ravens and other scavengers would be the only ones having plenty food.
Whether and when the bees will go extinct is hard to predict, but an important question rises from the topic. Is it worth the use of such large quantities of pesticides in the detriment of the bee colonies? Both wild and domestic. Are we consciously wiling to sacrifice such tinny insects that have a huge role on our planet with the use of chemicals that definitely harm them and affect their number by an alarming number?
References:
https://www.scienceabc.com/nature/bee-extinction-means-end-humanity.html
http://www.ziare.com/mediu/stiri-mediu/criza-albinelor-un-pericol-nebanuit-pentru-planeta-1087619