The Nerds and the Bees

Are we in the middle of a bee colony collapse or is there an unprecedented beesurgence? It turns out it’s not as easy as you’d think to get the latest buzz on bees. We’re either in a honey bear market or an epic drone show. The numbers are driven by several factors, including tax policies, and they’re up. We think. At least some people do. Ironically, when it comes to bees, there’s no hive mentality. “After almost two decades of relentless colony collapse coverage and years of grieving suspiciously clean windshields, we were stunned to run the numbers on the new Census of Agriculture (otherwise known as that wonderful time every five years where the government counts all the llamas): America’s honeybee population has rocketed to an all-time high … This prompted so many questions. Does this mean the insect apocalypse is over? Are pollinators saved? Did we unravel the web of maladies known as colony collapse disorder?” WaPo (Gift Article): Wait, does America suddenly have a record number of bees? Even if you’re not into insects, math, or data collection methods, this story is a pretty sweet read. It’s April Fools’ Day, but I swear, I’m not pollen your leg.