Albert Einstein once said humans would have only four years to live if bees were die off.

    That revelation is especially sobering because the number of honey bees has been declining in alarming numbers.

    Bees have been disappearing fast, a result of something called Colony Collapse Disorder, or CCD.

    CCD takes place when worker bees in a colony disappear and leave behind food and a few nurse bees to care for the remaining immature bees and the queen.

    Several possible causes for CCD have been proffered over the years, including infection by certain mites, malnutrition, pathogens, genetic factors, loss of habitat, changing beekeeping practices, even cell phone use. Much speculation also has centered on pesticides belonging to the neonicotinoid family.

    Whatever the problem, it's serious business.

    Without bees, we'd starve and Einstein knew it. He understood the delicate balance of nature and the noble role of the bee in supporting human life.

    Turns out, honey bees pollinate about one-third of the human diet, including much of our most popular foods.

    According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, bees pollinate apples, nuts, asparagus, broccoli, celery, cucumbers, citrus fruits, peaches, kiwi, cherries, blueberries, cranberries, strawberries, cantaloupe and more.

    It's not only nuts, fruits and berries impacted by pollination. Cattle rely on food pollinated by bees and so it's obvious we need to pay attention to what's happening.

    Chris Maxwell of Wild Creek Bee Farm, puts it this way: "Honeybees are the indicator species because once they go, you know there's a problem."

    It becomes easy to see the importance of healthy bee populations.

    With that in mind, it was hard not to notice the good news nestled in a Times News Spotlight story on October 21.

    In the feature report, writer Brian Myszkowski interviewd Monroe Cressley of Lehighton, a man who's been working with bees for nearly seven decades. Cressley, retired carpenter, builds boxes to house bee hives and has been instrumental in nurturing and promoting the unique hobby of beekeeping.

    He reports that amateur interest in beekeeping is growing. Similarly, commercial colonies are reporting increases in bee populations, as well.

    Cressley says the idea of raising bees shouldn't be intimidating. It requires only a little bit of know-how and access to information.

    New members in our area can learn more about bees from local beekeepers and at the Lehigh Valley Beekeepers Association.

    While CCD continues to be an issue, this recent, promising news from local beekeepers is welcomed.

    The resurgence of bee hives at even modest levels is something to buzz about; the development is a hopeful sign for a critical issue.

    Renewed interest in beekeeping and resulting boost to the industry can go a long way toward bolstering our food supply and ensuring survival on every level.

    Can anything else be more important?

By Donald R. Serfass

tneditor@tnonline.com