The president of the British Beekeepers Association, Tim Lovett, said he was very uneasy about the results of the survey: “The percentage of losses due to poor weather and disease vary between 5% and 10%, but a loss of 30% is to be very worried. This means very serious trouble for pollination and honey producers. “

One reason may have been wet spring and summer 2007. The bees were confined to their hives. This will impossible to find nectar and pollen, causing stress and creating appropriate conditions to be attacked by pathogens and contamination between them.

However, the honey producers association argues that the causes are unclear. The survey of 600 members revealed a sharp division between the losses between the north and south, with 37% in the north, compared with 26% in the south. “We do not know why there is a difference or the reasons for this high mortality,” said Lovett.

The government recognizes that in Britain the hives are cared for 44,000 beekeepers, it contributes around £ 165 million a year to the economy by pollinating many fruits and vegetables. Lovett said: “The 30% loss of hives could mean an expenditure of around £ 50 million and risk the possibility that people can consume five servings of vegetables and fruits a day.”

The Honey Association announced in July this year that English honey will only until Christmas and must await the next harvest in the summer of 2009 for supplies of English honey. They also argue that: “The blame for the shortage of bees is that more farmers are dedicated to producing wheat that gives them more profit but this does not produce nectar.”

The leading British producer of honey, Rowse, is very concerned about this situation and has promised to donate money to carry out an investigation into the causes of the disappearance of bees and a portion of sales of its honey will be earmarked for this purpose .

Stuart Bailey, chairman of Rowse said: “We are working with the British Beekeepers Association and supporting research for the next 12 months we can selectively breed a more robust bee that can not be attacked by pests or diseases.”

Bailey said the shortage had been aggravated by a 11% rise in demand for English honey over the past year. Although British honey only mean 10% of the 30,000 tonnes of honey consumed in the United Kingdom, other honey producing countries have also been seriously hit by bee diseases and climate.

Argentina, which is the “global supplier” of honey followed by Mexico, producing up to 75,000 tons, has suffered in recent years a decline of 27% in production due to drought and large tracts of soybean, leaving as a result a 60% rise in the price of honey.

In the U.S., honey production has declined due to loss of 36% of the hives, many due to the syndrome of Depopulation of the hive (CCD by its acronym in English). The mysterious disappearance is linked to the varroa mite, sucking blood, other deadly viruses, malnutrition due to lack of variety of foods, use of pesticides and a lack of genetic diversity.

The CCD has spread to Canada, France, Germany and Italy but has not yet been confirmed by the government of Great Britain. The Association of British producers urged the British government to collaborate in research on the causes of the loss of bees.

The minister and farmer Mr Rooker, has announced the disappearance of the bee within a decade. Last November, told parliament: “We do not deny that honeybee health is at risk, and frankly, if nothing is done the bees could disappear in 10 years.”

The National Farmers Union of England and Wales stated that it is essential that the government increase research funding in the bee. “The arrow research, breeding and the Norseman parasite.” Chris Hatfield, horticulture adviser of the union, said: “We’re talking food safety and food supply for the world is at risk.”

Finally a spokesman for the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs UK said: “Significant public funds are being used to support this area of work, but to ensure that this intervention is effective, it is vital that the work is driven by a known strategy where all parties agree. “(1)

An increasingly common problem

Unfortunately this does not apply only in Britain but also in many countries from across the planet and Uruguay is no exception to this reality.

In Florida, United States, the mysterious disappearance of millions of bees has beekeepers are very concerned. In December 2006 found that many of the bees were gone, and the curious thing about this is that there were no traces of their bodies. The other oddity of this situation is that the worker bees are gone, leaving behind the queen, completely atypical behavior within the realm of bees.

On this topic, Scientists are considering different scenarios. One is that the use of agrochemicals has caused some neurological damage to the bees and altered their sense of direction, which would prevent them from finding the way back to their hives. Others blame the drought and even mobile phone waves, but the truth is nobody knows for sure what the real trigger for this phenomenon.

Experts from around the world agree that the causes are multiple and many of them unknown, but all agree that climate change (long periods of drought or rainfall) is affecting, as well as changes in agricultural practices with the advent of huge mono cultures, which leads them to have an unbalanced diet or simply to have great difficulty getting food. Like what happens to every living thing, if the bees are not well fed they become prone to disease.

Problems of beekeeping in Uruguay

Honey production is declining in Uruguay and during the 2007/2008 harvest is estimated to reach only 40% of traditional levels, producing a total of only five to six million kilos. Among the causes that are managed to explain this decline are mentioned bad weather and the new agricultural scenario. With regard to the latter, it is noted that in the west of the country, which produces much of the honey, now the main crops are soybeans, wheat and barley, significantly reducing the areas with meadows, a situation that directly affects in the production of honey and putting at risk beekeeping.

Add to this several years ago in Uruguay that beekeepers are expressed about the disappearance of their hives and bees. While there are institutions in the country would be studying the causes of his death, they are not yet clear.

The massive use of pesticides known worldwide for its toxicity to bees is clearly an important part of the problem. Scientifically it is proven that certain insecticides used in agriculture are highly toxic to bees. Such is the case of imidacloprid, fibroin, cypermethrin and endosulfan, among others, whose use has increased substantially in our country in recent years.

In relation to the imidacloprid, the German beekeepers have been indicted by the company Bayer, who leads world market of pesticides and producing this insecticide. Beekeepers consider that this insecticide is responsible for the death of millions of bees. At this time the sale is suspended in several European countries, as this substance known for its high toxicity to bees. However, it is still used heavily in Uruguay.

Fibroin insecticide is another recognized for their toxicity to bees. France withdrew from the market after finding that the death of millions of their bees had been caused by the use of this substance. In the month of January there was a large mortality of bees in the department of Flores, Uruguay, due to the use of this insecticide. However, its use remains authorized.

Endosulfan is an organ chlorine insecticide. Is classified by the Environment Agency for the United States (EPA) and the European Union as a class Ib, that is as highly dangerous. In several countries in Europe is not for resale.

Endosulfan is very toxic to virtually all types of organisms, being highly toxic to bees. Widely dispersed in the environment, by wind, rivers and ocean currents, moving all over the world. If use in Uruguay has increased dramatically in recent years, linked to the cultivation of soybeans.

Cypermethrin, is another dangerous insecticide highly toxic to aquatic organisms and fish, as well as for the bees. The International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) classifies it as “possible human carcinogen.” This insecticide is restricted and sometimes forbidden to use their toxicity. However, in our country is still used extensively.

All these causes and every one of them may be the reason for the disappearance of these insects as sensitive as important in agriculture, that “suck the nectar from flowers and in doing so that pollen can move from one flower to another, which fertilization favors and does, ultimately, the fruit grows. “

Each year on the ice of Labrador and Newfoundland, the coming of spring, occurs most world slaughter of mammals. Hundreds of thousands of harp seals (Pedophiles grandiloquences) of between 12 days and 12 months of age die to death for their fur, their fat and their penises reach the Western market as luxury products, dietary or aphrodisiacs. 

• For many years the killing has remained largely hidden from the world, but the advent of the Internet, especially, brings to retinas this shameful reality every spring. In 2005, for the first time, the various NGOs working to protect these animals have come together, creating an international coalition: The Protect Seals Network .

• In April (2009) the European Parliament will vote on a proposal to ban seal products, which must be imported, exported or even be transported in two countries of the European Union (Table 1).

• It is almost impossible to believe that in the XXI century, unsustainable activities like this that endanger the wildlife permit. The seal hunt is an indiscriminate and bloody career in the hunters ‘compete’ for killing the largest number of these mammals in the shortest time possible.

• Globally, Canada is a leader in the seal hunt with a quota of between 200,000 and 350,000 per year, followed by Greenland 165,000; Namibia, with 80,000 and Norway, with 14,000, according to information from the Humane Society International, a organization dedicated to the protection of animals.

• The Canadian government has a long history of mismanaging marine ecosystems, which has led to depletion of marine biodiversity and fisheries and the harp seal hunt have only short-term yields.

• Instead of creating jobs for economically disadvantaged sectors of Newfoundland the Canadian government subsidizes the seal hunt.

On the ice in front of the northeast coast of Canada, off Newfoundland and the Gulf of St. Lawrence since 2003 takes the largest slaughter of marine mammals (harp seal) in the world. It is estimated that this year (2009) 338 thousand seals may die, according to the amount authorized “by the Canadian government. However, such contributions are hardly respected. It is estimated that the population is currently over 5.5 million head.

The St. Lawrence estuary in the North Atlantic, is one of the most beautiful scenery in Canada. The noise of the icebergs that are breaking down, the music of the shooting, the percussion of sticks and the hoarse bellowing of the animals desperate terror, falling one after another, it may be another charm. Canadian policy found in the slaughter of the last six years, a way to disguise the unemployment of fishermen by predation they suffer the sea.

The Arctic ecosystem is characterized, unlike tropical ecosystems due to its short food chain and limited biodiversity. This makes biological systems particularly fragile and dependent on a plethora of its various components.

The biological wealth is distributed between ice sheets, sea water, coastal, tundra and some Borealis conifers, forming a mosaic of ecosystems that serves as a permanent habitat or breeding and feeding area for the species.

500 years ago in this water shoals of cod was so dense that he could barely navigate a canoe through the waters. The old ways of fishing were replaced by modern methods. Expensive equipment, heavy and powerful now large catches of cod at a time. Currently the coast of Newfoundland, almost no cod, early 90s collapsed stocks and the fishing industry and the Canadian government has turned their attention to the harp seals. In the last three years the number of kills allowed more than one million copies by the fact that seals are reproduced sharply and threaten stocks of cod in the Atlantic.

The harp seal or Greenland seal (Poncho Greenfield also named Pedophiles grandiloquences) is a species of mammal paneled family Phobia. They are in the North Atlantic Ocean and the Arctic Ocean. Males grow to 1.70 meters in length and weigh about 130 kilograms. Can live more than 35 years.

Females give birth to one pup a year on floating ice where they are safe from predators, about 10 kilos in weight, between the months of February and March to mate again after the puppies are weaned. In just 12 days the puppy weighs 30 kilos, thanks to mother’s milk that has a huge proportion of fat. They reach sexual maturity between 4 and 6 years.

After mating, adult males congregate in the pack along with the immature seals and those that are not in foster care.

Their diet is shaped by a wide range of prey species, without being able to prove that among those given the cod – varies according to age and season.

They owe their name to a dark spot adults in the skin, which recalls the shape of a harp. Although the seal is not very agile on land, thanks to its tapered body and hydrodynamic, this animal is or excellent swimmer. As a diver, the depth reached and the immersion time depend on their physical capacity. They can stay up to 15 minutes under the water and descend to 275 feet deep or more. As a mammal that breathes, must confront the problem of increasing water pressure with depth, strongly compressing an air-filled cavity is the lungs. To minimize this risk, often breathing out before the dive. Also compared to terrestrial mammals, the harp seal has the ability to store more oxygen and reduce heart rate while diving. Using video recordings, it has been demonstrated that this animal diving actively since the beginning of the dive to about three minutes later and then still sink into the depths. To minimize power consumption, using a trick when the hydrostatic pressure increases with depth, the lungs contract and your body also is compressed. This decreases the volume of the animal while maintaining the same weight. The specific weight of the animal increases and effortlessly sinks into the depths.

Fossil remains indicate that they may have existed during the Miocene, approximately 20 million years.

Professional or commercial hunting of harp seals in existence since the sixteenth century. In 1899, 33 million were killed Canadian seal for meat, fur and oil. The economic market for seal products in 1987 was removed, and the Canadian government finally made illegal commercial hunting. Since 2003, the Canadian seal hunt expands again. Although the killing of newborn seals is illegal, hunting is allowed which have only 14 days of life. The Canadian Ministry of Fisheries Ohawa for the 2009 season authorize the killing of 338 thousand seals harp.

The pups lose their white coats approximately 12 days after birth and have between three and eight weeks when they are killed because the skin with short hair is very well listed.

The price of sealskin was multiplied tenfold in the last 6 years. Canadian authorities charged 20 cents for every puppy that is killed. The demand for the pelts are highly prized in the fashion industry in several countries, its main markets being China, Japan, Norway, Estonia, Greece, Hong Kong, Poland, Denmark and Russia, a fur seal is listed among $ 70 per piece. The hunting of seals may or representative from 25 to 35% of total annual income of 6,000 fishermen. The calculations made by the Government on the growth of the seal population assume that environmental and biological factors remain unchanged both short and long term. A permit highly questionable in the light of the increasing impacts of climate change on the conditions of the oceans and ice. The hunting quotas are based on censuses of seals made at intervals of five years. But because the hunts are focused on offspring that do not reach breeding age until five years of age, the impacts on the population can take over 10 years and are necessary to know 15 years to determine population trends. Therefore, the census conducted by the Canadian government do not reflect the reality of the status of these populations.

In this millennium is taking place a long-term change in the composition of fish catches following the exhaustion of more traditional stocks such as cod, flounder, grouper, tuna (90 percent reduced) and the dedication of efforts to other less valuable (mollusks, crustaceans) that previously were exploited little or nothing.

Scientific studies have shown that just seals the fish consumed per day equivalent to between 1 and 3 percent of their body mass, whereas until now was widely believed that the percentage reached up to 27 percent.

FAO is monitoring the operational status of key species or groups of fish stocks on which information is evaluated. The current world situation is consistent with the general trend observed in previous years. It is estimated that in 2003 around a quarter of the populations that were monitored are underexploited or moderately exploited (3 and 21 percent respectively) and could perhaps produce more.

About half of the population (52 percent) are fully exploited and therefore producing catches of dimensions close to their maximum sustainable limits, while approximately a quarter are overexploited, depleted or recovering from depletion, so that replacement is necessary. From 1974 to 2003 has been a continuous downward trend in the proportions of stocks offering potential for expansion. At the same time tends to increase the proportion of overexploited and depleted stocks, which rose 10 per cent in the mid-1970s to almost 25 percent in early 2000.

Of the ten species that account for a total 30 percent by volume of global production of capture fisheries, seven are considered fully exploited or overexploited (anchovy, Chilean jack mackerel, Alaska coli, Japanese anchovy, blue whiting, capelin and Atlantic herring), which means that they can not be expected substantial increases in output. According to statistical data across the North Atlantic has been a disastrous management of fisheries and now blames the seals, whales, dolphins and even sea birds.

On the one hand, in the past have lived in balance large populations of seals and whales with huge stocks of cod, and both the seal and whale populations such as cod were much higher than today. On the other hand, it is wrong to think that by reducing the number of seals will necessarily increase the stock of cod. Marine food webs are very complex, not only seals eat cod, but other species that prey on cod, which implies that the decline of seals could cause an increase in predatory species of cod and the worse off cod stocks.

Another justification for this mass slaughter is because since the 70′s population has doubled and has spent more than 1.3 million copies to 4 – 6 million according to the Department of Fisheries and Oceans (DFO). Scientists estimate that current populations of Arctic seals represent only 10 percent of what was the original population. The hunting territory extends 40 miles around Newfoundland. From 2003 until today have killed 1,790,000 seals.

The International Fund for Animal Welfare (IFAW) said that due to climate change, this year the ice is more fragile, leading to an increase in natural mortality.

Another argument put forward by the Canadian government is that this killing is a vital part of the local economy, for which last year generated about 17 million euros. Only a small percentage of seal meat is processed and used. This small amount is used to make pet food or farm. The seal meat is only used as food by the natives because its composition is highly greasy. Also the male genitalia used in Asia (an aphrodisiac).

In the last century has witnessed the depletion of a number of populations of birds, reptiles and mammals that bear a direct or indirect interaction with the collection by the man of marine resources. Fishing or hunting has been the cause of many of these extinctions. In other cases such as sea cows and sea turtles competition that makes the man to find an appropriate way, which often degrades himself, may have been the predominant cause

The Canadian government maintains these hunts for two main reasons:

* For some income fishers from outside the fishing season.

* For the unproven myth that extinguished the cod. That is why the seals are seen as “a plague” that must be exterminated. Proceeds from the sale of furs to China, Norway and Denmark last year was 16 million dollars.

In the northwest Atlantic fish production recorded its lowest level in 1994 and again in 1998 with the depletion of ground fish stocks at the height of eastern Canada. The lack of cod and salmon are due to poor management.

A simple model to illustrate the relationships between the various agencies of the sea is the marine food chain. As primary producers, unicellular algae use sunlight to form complex molecules that serve to grow and multiply. The next link in the chain is herbivorous and feeds on primary producers, which at the time the prey of carnivorous next link in the chain and so on. However, in reality it is rare for complex marine ecosystems consisting of a simple food chain consisting of individual species that feed on other species that are below them in the food chain. Often, they also change the eating habits of a species throughout its life cycle: a young herring consume phytoplankton, while the exemplary adult consumes a wide range of prey. Hence, it is best to describe the tropic relationships of the inhabitants of the sea as a marine food web, with complex interconnections between the various members of the community.

The harp seals are apex predators have played a role in controlling the density of their prey species, but also among the first whose number has been reduced by catches. However, given the complexity of many marine food webs, commercial disposal of the main apical species often leads to other organizations assume all or part of the role of apex predators until such time comes that time when they are over fished.

Marine food webs are complex and pose difficulties to quantify the effects of human action. Deleting an apex predator has not always resulted in a notable increase in the yield of the species that serve as prey. Moreover, taking into account the sizes of the populations of predatory species before their exhaustion, you’ve probably been a degree of competition between man and apical predators common prey, if it were still present in their original amounts. Thus, populations of marine mammals, even brother many have now been reduced in size in many areas of the world can still consume at least as large a volume of some species of prey such as capturing the man. In these calculations do not take into account the ecological relationships, the stability of the ecosystem or the growing recognition of the ecological importance of marine mammals and have cultural significance for man because of his intelligence, media and social behavior .

Food chain: in the first links in that chain microorganisms make their own food and are then eaten by other organisms, the elderly, which in turn are eaten by others.

Current theories about the importance of predators in terrestrial ecology ecosystems have emphasized its importance to the systematic killing or culling of sick individuals or unsuitable and maintain the population sizes of prey species in balance with available resources, but not is easy to gather evidence on the strong degree to which this argument is at sea, where the pressure is so high predatory man. Has not been confirmed in the marine environment if, with reducing the populations of top predators populations of prey fish that are more volatile and / or if they would comply with these principles but would lead to different relative abundances of component ecosystem. Precisely the question of what level of exploitation should be done has become a matter of discussion among those interested in food security and those who worry that the harp seal population to remain in a situation as close as possible to not exploitation. The achievement of this goal requires a significant cost in terms of their effects on the nature and level of harvesting activities, and now this cost should be borne almost exclusively by the fishing industry that continues to play the lead role in referred to getting a return on living marine resources.

It is assumed that the return of many marine mammal populations to the number that existed before the man takes the predominant role of apical predator in marine food chains, made possible only by significant reductions in global fish catches, and from then give rise to them.

Of course there are specious arguments in discussions between conservation and development, and not always analyze the contrasting evidence on both sides. It has been speculated, arguing that reducing the abundance of cephalopods that prey on juveniles could raise fisheries yields of traditional fish species. This argument does not take into account the growth that is occurring in the squid fisheries around the world and could be because the cephalopod are occupying part of the niche left by the depleted species of ground fish, nor has the fact that the squid may be gaining some denominations now higher than most fish.

It is evident that the return of the volumes of apical predator population to previous levels untapped is only possible with a substantial cost to man measured by loss of animal protein from the sea, which must be taken into account in the field of sustainable development of marine resources.

The reduction of apical predator cod is giving increased yields of species that occupies an inferior place in the food web, as these returns are dominated by small forage fish that have a unit value lower than the cod, the net value of fishery declined as a result.

Unsustainable hunting is not the only enemy of the harp seal, climate change is another factor that threatens the lives of these mammals, as biologists say that this species needs ice for food and rearing their helpless offspring. The bad news is that pollution of the planet does not stop and therefore global warming either.

After a trip of about 2 hours by train and walking group, came to the nursery, get me a lady and headed for where the plants, enclosed in a antimariposario so that they do not come to place their little eggs, and yet in the short time they open, in their desperation they managed to enter because there were several tracks in there.

I say desperately because, sadly, this plant is very little to bring the curse of being a native (1). Like the aborigines of our suffering and pillaged America and other native vegetation was wiped out.

Instead we now see everywhere species introduced from Europe and other parts of the world, become invasive because the environmental conditions here are different and because they have no natural predators to regulate them.

Letting ourselves be carried away by what everybody does, growing exotic species is only because we liked the nursery and we do not have in mind so we break the perfect balance of our Mother Earth.

We do not care (or not think) that many animals have disappeared or are becoming increasingly scarce due to the disappearance of their natural environments.

In the squares and other flowers planted thoughts that must be changed every year, business for a few who are left with a cut, and nothing else.

Instead they could plant beautiful native plants that attract birds, butterflies and other insects (which does not happen with most of the vegetation introduced) (2).

Continuing my journey … I decide to take 2 caterpillars with plants, to save the tragic fate in store for them when someone buys this vine and the mate of a kick.

Once back, when I go to the group a lady stopped me and told me be careful because “burn.” I explained that that species did not have stinging hairs, is harmless, and had purchased the plants especially to feed the little caterpillar.

(I must say that the so famous “cats hairy” we killed because “burning” moths are very beautiful).

In my thought that the only thing missing now was that even when the want to kill me, and would be the last straw!

Stepping onto the train and sit down. A girl looking at me after a while he rose from his seat and walked toward me and tried to kill one of the tracks with his foot, saying: “There is a bug.”

This could not be true! So far as the hobby of killing people! The automatic … Even without even knowing … Fearing the unknown, our conduct is to kill.

In part it is due to ignorance. We love butterflies, but we hate the tracks and give them a stamp right away, exclaiming: a hairy cat! Many printing and are given routinely conduct of killing them, as if these beings have no right to life as “impressionable” for most humans.

This happens with caterpillars and many other animals is typical of our current vision of the world, which is anthropocentric (3) and is manifested by conduct specialist. (4)

We believe higher than other species, the center of the universe.

In our view the world is at our disposal, we are not part of nature, but outside of it. Completely detached.

We call them “natural resources”, a purely economic terms. We turn the world into a commodity, and what does not serve us, which has no commercial value, we do not care and is exterminated. But we do not realize that as he said the Indian chief Noah Stealth: “Man did not weave the web of life, he is just a thread. Whatever he does to the web, he does to himself “(5)

Odyssey is not the end of my trip …

The train was on a station near my house, and had to wait for the next. I sat beside me and had a wife and she told me she had hairy hands and knees and I would eat the whole plant.

This idea that we (anthropocentric in fact) that the plant is for us to admire its leaves and flowers … again, without respecting the web of life, what we do by applying pesticides is a violation, in some way to humanize the plant. In our ego, we adapted to our taste and we do not allow animals to feed her.

I explain (for the third time this trip) the reason why I bought this vine, in that a street kid, about 12 or 13 years that he was aware of the situation came to see the tracks with great curiosity and enthusiasm and then we had a pleasant conversation.

This child told the lady that he did not know all the tracks were transformed into butterflies and asked if her if, to which she responded negatively.

While this guy and the lady knew about the process of metamorphosis (the same as I said), not related to everyday life … obviously something is amiss in the education system. If this school is how is it that when we are facing do not know that a caterpillar will turn into a butterfly, or some other insect?

The habit and routine ours is something very harmful to nature in general and our animal brothers. Thought is a prison. It prevents us from reflecting on what we are doing every day with them (directly or indirectly). Delays paradigm shift (from today to biocentrism anthropocentrism) (6) needed to recover from the current social-environmental crisis, and to end animal exploitation.

For the damn habit, routine and ignorance kill caterpillars and other “bugs” like having a chip in our brains that makes us kill everything we see automatically, as frequently happens with the spiders.

The positive aspect of this trip was that the outrage over the incident served as a trigger for me today to have it happen with the larvae of butterflies, but also with other arthropods such as insects and spiders. I also led to the conviction of something already believed, that we must focus our energy towards children as vehicles for change (without glossing adults), whereas this street kid who came, became very excited this item. But why that happened?

It was because COULD SEE DIRECTLY what adults can not generally be blinded by common sense, their prejudices and customs that prevent you from discovering (via observation), the wonderful world and the beauty in something so small, was passed by high and killed without first getting to know, such as a caterpillar.

Zoos and Spanish dolphin continue away from the educational and conservation purposes is justified by the existence of such parks today. At least, it considers the European Commission, which reported a few months ago in Spain before the Court of Justice of the Union because several Spanish regions did not comply with the Law of Zoos, six years after it was approved. The NGO Info Zoos, national benchmark in terms of the struggle for quality-looking zoos both animal welfare and fidelity to the educational mission of these centers, continues to carry out several inspections of zoos in some of the communities included in the complaint against the Kingdom of Spain and, with some exceptions, has found that the zoos of a European country that has more centers still have shortcomings such alarming. 

One of the primary objectives of Info Zoos is the promotion of a critical-but rigorous and constructive turn-of zoos. “We believe that knowledge and exchange of ideas is the key that will allow us to have the elements needed to substantiate our views, and thus moving away from preconceived ideas or prejudices of one kind or another,” said Alberto Dies Michelin, spokesman of this NGO, through whose work has achieved the closure of several zoos who persisted in unacceptable conditions. Two good examples are Almendralejo Zoo (Extremadura) and Koki Farms (Toledo), which alarmed the Spanish society with images of animals injured and “stored” as if they were products, dark cage, small and dirty. Other centers have renewed their facilities and parks have looked better for the wild animals that could not be maintained in good condition.

“Many of these zoos begin as a private collection of farm animals which gradually begin to add exotic animals from establishments that have been closed or seized at customs. Unable to find a suitable site for them, authorities often resort to these little parks that just overwhelmed, “explained from the NGO.

Some others are pockets of local exhibitions, as the case of mini zoo de Leon, who decided to get rid of primates possessing and remodel the outdated facilities bears. The Parquet de la Magdalena in Santana, however, has clean facilities and adequate, but nevertheless, does not participate in conservation programs of endangered species (or in the zoo itself or natural habitats of these animals), nor develops educational programs and guided tours to the public that goes to the park. Just these two factors are the most clearly defined in the Spanish legislation on zoos, transposition of a European Directive 1999.

The alleged role of education and conservation of zoos, loses much of its meaning in the dolphin, where live animals kept in pools that are not endangered. According to recent studies by Spanish Info Zoos six dolphin, a high percentage (between 85 and 95 per cent) of activities that are subject to the cetaceans of the Spanish dolphin are not faithful to the aims of teaching and conservation law requires Zoos. “These centers function as ‘circus’ where animals run a series of stunts repetitive learning result of a completely unnatural and far from their natural behaviors, expressed regret at the organization.

“It distorts the role and image of these beings live, wild animals that become mere clowns. Nothing could be further education or conservation which calls from the EU directive, which clearly states that zoos should be basically a commitment to the rehabilitation centers of species, to provide expertise and contribute to improving the conservation status of wild animals, “says Dies Michelins.

Activities such as feeding the whale, surfing on his back or pat, which require contact with the trainer and even children in the audience, are not natural to the species, which can be very endearing at first sight. Therefore, not only does not teach anything to the visitors about the biology or the characteristics of these marine mammals, but they are deprived of living in an environment similar to their habitat and behaving as they would in the wild, something that can cereals a strong stress and frequent mortality.

Several scientific studies have shown that large marine mammals such as whales or dolphins suffer the consequences of living away from their natural environment, impossible to reproduce in a tank of water. These physical and psychological weaknesses are reflected in a shortened lifespan, reproductive problems and even aggression. Also, the constant contact with the water chemistry and excessive exposure to sunlight will generate skin lesions.

In some other cases, environmental quality conditions which are not met. The most alarming weaknesses are lack of access to clean water and food, not enough space available to rest and perform the necessary exercise and a high level of stress generated by the proximity to the public or other animals, both prey or predators. Likewise, biologists also look Info Zoos factors for mental and physical health of the inhabitants of zoos, such as environmental enrichment, which the carrier is as close as possible to where the animal lives in freedom, and a composition of groups similar to that which would be released. The picture of a puppy at a zoo monkey trying to climb canary tree painted on the wall of a cage completely transparent or image of a white rhino going round in circles for hours at a park Valencia summarizes the sense of frustration that Too often suffering wild animals away from their natural environment.

The experiment was conducted during 2006 and 2007 and involved the author, the tutor and the  Scientific Group FAMSA Student Animal Production and the management is discussed Bee Earth in three areas (Ramon Gordo (meliponiario Juanito), El Abra (Mil Cumbres meliponiario Protected Area) and Paddle (meliponiario of FAMSA) by the author’s experience, the tutor and the student group FAMSA Scientific.

The number of hives and Apiary description by area is as follows:

• Ramon Gordo: 17 Hive: The Apiary is located in a small building tables and guano, with earthen floor, enclosed by the north and east. These hives located in a sort of table and boxes are rustic, built by the breeder.

• The Open: 27 hives: This Apiary is located beneath a thatched roof with no walls and dirt floor herbs.

• Paddle: 11 beehives: The construction of this Apiary is wooden, with cement tile roof and walls of mesh Perles.

We analyzed the following aspects

Honey • Flora: The population of honey plants and flowering time was determined by observations of the author with the cooperation of students of the scientific group FAMSA and surveys of residents of the area, also in the three zones using the method of transects 3000 m long , has inventoried the number of existing species of honey plants.

• Management of hives: Through observations at existing hatcheries), which determined the choice of location for placement of the Apiary, a division of the colony, tools needed for the activity, review of the hive, harvesting and conservation of honey.

• Analysis and description of Honey: six samples were sent to the laboratory of the National Institute of Beekeeping for them to be physically and chemically analyzed and the results compared with Apis honey. The description of the honey is done based on the product and its composition. The rules of different countries follow the guidelines of Codex Alimentarius Commission (FAO: 1969, 1997, 2001).

• Natural enemies: They were determined by observations and surveys of farmers, peasants and other villagers, who are or were related to the activity, the following steps:

• Presentation.
• Explanation of the purposes and objectives of the interview.
• Explanation of the method of selection of respondents.
• Presentation of the managing body of the interview.
• Explain that guaranteed anonymity.
• Diseases.

33 samples were sent to the Laboratory of the Institute of Ecology and Systematics CITMA 11 per kennel.

Results and discussion

Behavior of honey plants flowering for the three study areas.

The determination of the species of bees and flowering plants by months is important these issues directly Affect Because bee populations on earth, since these extra flowers food substances and materials for building their houses.

Generally, there are plenty of bees species for the three study areas, having a better performance Canalete area with 53 species, followed in that order, Ramon Gordo with 46 species and finally the El Abra with 35 species, the difference in the number of honey plants is due to the predominate type of plant formation, Which is the Forest Canalete semideciduuo of antler, training as Valdes (2003), is more rich in species diversity than the rest of those represented in the area.

The rich diversity of honey plants, ensures a magnificent view to the development of Earth bee and floral diversity that Constitutes the basis for good food and their development, Which coincides with the approach of Toledo (2005) in their work on the topic in the area .

Behavior of flowering for months for the study areas

The months of better behavior in general, we first have the month of May, followed by the month of April and December. Here is good to note that only refers to bees species, ie species that the bees visit in order to collect pollen and are capable of Contributing to the production of honey, these results Reaffirmed the principles of IUCN (1978).

Significantly, the flowering peak months correspond with the changing seasons, ie in May, the beginning of the rainy season, as the month of April, Which is drier, but the shift has occurred spring and then follows the month of December, with the presence of many species of vines that are visited by bees, these results confirm those Obtained by Sablon (1999) in other areas of the country with similar vegetation.

Characterization of flowering in the area of Ramon Gordo

This indicator may be important from the perspective of the number of species of plants that can flourish in a given year lessens and that of course is dependent on natural conditions of the area in question in question.

Areas can display at one time a behavior is not uniform, Which may be influenced by their floristic composition.

During the journeys made to inventory were observed grazing areas where the main species was Sacasebo (Paspalum notatum), semi-deciduous forest areas of antler, with a high degree of anthropization.

Behavior of flowering Ramon Gordo

This area is typical behavior that appears very similar to what happened in the analysis of the three areas as a whole, as the months of May, with 32 species that bloom, April and December with 19 species, with 16 species are the months of better behavior in this aspect.

Behavior of flowering in the El Abra

In analyzing the vegetation of the area showed a formation of Referent or gallery forest near San Diego River, with good cover, but poor in species, since it was formed almost solely by Pomarrosa, close to present a training apiary pine forests that develop on soils derived from shale and have a tree layer, consisting of male pine (Pinus caribaea) and female pine (Pinus tropicalis) endemic species occupying the more arid lands. Agricultural areas were planted with coffee and tubers (sweet potato, cassava, rice, corn, beans, vegetables, Malanga and Rice) and a small area of orchards, planted with mangoes, oranges, papaya, bananas, grapefruit, lemons and other .

In this area, the difference is more pronounced in relation to the rainy month, and that Mayo rises to 37 species and the months of April and December with a very similar behavior. Noteworthy is the behavior of the months of February and August only 8 species that bloom, perhaps motivated by the low rainfall that occur in both months of the year or the flowering of the coffee planted areas are nearby, This approach is in line with those of Alan (1994) in their work in coffee growing areas of Costa Rica.

Behavior of flowering in the area Canalete

In the area of three formations are present Canalete plant, the first the semi-deciduous forest, very upset, resulting in secondary vegetation, where virtually absent value timber species, such approaches are consistent with those of Alvarez and Varona (1988). However, there are still areas of this type of vegetation, some well preserved, as in Sierra de Macaw.

Species were observed as the cedar (Cedrela odorata), Bari (Cordia gerascanthus) ATEJE (Cordia collococca) Ayua (Zanthoxylum martinicensis), among others, also abundant in the shrub layer Yaya (Oxandra lanceolata), Guara (Cupania americana), Siguaraya (Trichilia havanensis), Cabo de hacha (Trichilia hirta) and others.

In hummocks vegetation is present flora of species-rich semi-deciduous forest, xerophytic open, trees and shrubs, with few herbaceous plants were observed la Palma de la Sierra (Gaussia princeps), Sierra Cuaba (Ceratopyxis verbenacea) the ceiling (Bombasts cubists).

Also present Encircle training on a small scale and is developed on acid soils in Ceja del Rio, has a tree layer consisting oleo ides Quercus, var. sagraeana associated with Almacigo (Bursera simaruba) Peralejo (Byrsonima crassifolia), among others, presenting a rich herbaceous layer, consisting of Guinea grass (Panicum maximum), Pangola (Digitaria decumbens), Sacasebo (Paspalum notatum), Grass (Cynodon dactylon ) Pajama Male (Sorghum stipoides), used for the postindustrial.

This training is excessively influenced by human, for man has used for animal husbandry, building on the production of acorns in Encino, for feeding pigs.

In analyzing this area, as in the past, the month of May has performed better than the other months, but this time only with 26 species. It is also noteworthy that the second place in terms of the deal flowering in this case the month of December with 21 species and follows the month of April with 17. It noted further, the misbehavior of the month of August with only 4 species flowering and the months of July and October with 8 and 9 species respectively, these results corroborate those of Toledo (2005).

Management of beehives

In this section covers the results obtained in the three apiaries, not offered separately as they coincide in their derivations, develop the following topics: Site selection for placement of the apiary, a division of the colony, tools, review the hive and harvesting and conservation of honey.

Description of Melanoma present in the area

Sting less bees, and introducing this instrument calls for defense stunted, are true social insects, colonies have a queen mother, several generations of operators, as well as males depending on the overall condition of the population.

Generally males are times where there is enough food and the presence of queen cells, signals that have been fertilized queens shortly. The males are smaller. The workers live on average 30 to 40 days and are almost white when leaving the brood cells, darkening with the passage of time. The queen is fertilized when it presents its belly distended and can be located easily with the naked eye, usually inhabit the breeding area, moving between cells.

Earth Bees build their nests in hollow trees, abandoned nests, and in numerous places where they find sufficient space and security for the development of the colony (poles, walls, walls, logs).

In preparing the nest, the bees use different building materials such as pure wax, ceriman (wax + propels mixture) or in some cases bitumen (mixture of propels + clay), for the delimitation of internal space.

Within the nests, honey and pollen stored them in jars, oval wax and propels. These are located next to the brood cells, based on available space in the colony.

The brood cells are usually arranged in a stacked discs, being that some species have spiral cells or in chunks.

Site selection for placement of the apiary

To choose the place the breeder must observe certain characteristics such as:

a) Source of food: all the bees need to visit flowers to collect pollen (protein source) and nectar (sugar source) which will then be taken to the colony. Because of these requirements is important that the location has a lot of flowers attractive to bees.

b) Wind: boxes should not be in local intense and frequent exposure to the winds, mainly the north. The existence of barriers such as trees is essential to break the wind currents.

c) Shadow: the ideal in the breeding of these bees is the placement of local shaded boxes, either in warehouses or exploiting natural shade of the trees, we must avoid direct and continuous exposure to sunlight. Boxes placed in outdoor boxes must be protected with a cover (sheet, tiles, wood) and that excess sun can melt the wax and kill the breeding fermented honey.

d) Pollution: Bees should not be bred in places exposed to toxic chemicals, we must be especially careful in the use of pesticides or chemicals, because it is one of those responsible for the extinction of several species of insects.

e) Security: care in the prevention of theft in Meliphonario have to be taken by the breeder, it is much easier to steal the boxes of these species swarms of Apis mellifera.

After choosing the location, the breeder colonies must acquire through purchase or capture of natural swarms, a much less expensive alternative, but requires more work. After locating a swarm must carefully remove the material (stone, wood, trunk) that covers the home of the bees to come into direct contact with the area of the nest.

Initially should be transferred to the hive box or breeding areas, being careful not to crush the dishes containing the pups nor spin. Much attention is needed at this time since the Queen is walking the course of rearing. If we find the queen never touch it with your hand that could lead to workers do not accept it back into the nest.

Then he must transfer the pots of food which they were closed, fixing the broken pots or open for use at another time. Open pots with exposed food attracts ants, bees and other flies that contaminate the honey.

Finally boxes shall be closed or sealed with tape or mud, if possible, wait until dark to carry the boxes to the final place as they will be the total of the bees in the hive.

Division of the colony:

Alongside the process of capturing the breeder can increase the number of boxes of Melioration through the division of colonies. The division is only recommended for strong colonies and in times of great flowering.

We recommend the following steps:

a) Monitor the breeding area if there are real cells, which are larger cells, located at the extremities of the discs and give rise to a new queen.

b) transferring the disc or plate where the queen with two or three plates of lighter coloration and dark background (breeding born) for the colony daughter or empty box.

c) dividing the pots of food between the two boxes.

d) keeping the mother colony to stay with the Queen for a place distant from 3 to 6 meters from the daughter colony. In this way we will strengthen the new box with the arrival of the bees who were working for the division.

The queen cells Meliphonas do as the queen cells are born equal to those of the workers, so the breeder should simply divide the number of plates between the colonies, taking care to place the older (more white and dark background) in the daughter colony.

Review of the hive:

From time to time the breeder needs to make an inspection to see how the bees are living, this inspection or review should always be done on sunny days, no wind, at times more fresh (preferably morning). The duration of this task should not be long, since the mere opening of the hive causes great internal derangement of the colony.

During the review must make some comments in and out of the hives as:

a) number of dishes for breeding – in this case the deficiency colony numbers of records, we can strengthen this nest with 1 or 2 courses nascent breeding (ready to be born) from other boxes.

b) excesses of involucre – in this case if it is taking up too much space in the nest, we removed part of this layer of wax so that the number of plates breeding conditions may have increased.

c) number of pots of food – where little food in the warehouses, the breeder must incorporate artificial feeding, especially in times of low flowering. In case of food available from other colonies nearby, the breeder can transfer some pots, always taking care not to bring together those Bee colonies.

d) Dead Bees on the floor – this may be due to disease or presence of natural enemies. The placement of insulators allows security against attacks mainly ants.

We should note whether any kind of parasite in the colony (mites, nematodes or larvae), or an error in the location of the hive (too much sun or shade) and management.

All these revisions should be recorded by the breeder so that it can have a good control of their hives. This will help identify and resolve more quickly the problems that can endanger the “life” of its Meliphonario.

Harvest and storage of honey

The honey crop should be done in time with abundant flowers, when the pots are many and are closed, filled with honey. You can harvest the honey in the following ways:

a) with a syringe: the breeder should open with the tip of a spatula or knife honey pots (they are the darkest), then aspirated with a sterile syringe content, immediately putting the honey in the correct containers.

b) draining the honey in this method after a gentle slope of the deposit the contents of the pots and open containers will be drained to previously conditioned. It must first pass through a strainer to remove any materials accompanying honey. It is advised to remove the pots as these can again be used by the bees again and loaded with honey.

Once removed this honey should not be exposed to air for more than 10 minutes and should be conditioned in a refrigerator.

Analysis and description of Honey: Compared to honey bees, sting less bee honey is more fluid and could be said in simple terms it looks more like a honey oil.

The results of laboratory tests conducted at the National Institute of Apiculture are provided in Table 1. These results were compared with Apis honey, taken from Alan (1994).

The definitions and descriptions of food are appropriate for your needs. It’s almost reasonable to think that the honey of Apis mellifera were the most traded and therefore acquired the exclusive rights to be called honey. However, considering that other species of bees also processed sugary substances available in nature and stored, it is also reasonable to talk about other species of honey bees.

Actually, this is an omission in time, which can be corrected gradually as other honeys are incorporated in the standards of the countries that produce or import them therefore in Cuba Meliphonas honey has every right to define themselves as such.

When comparing the sting less bee honey with honey from Apis mellifera, its moisture content is usually greater than that allowed in the rules of honey as can be seen for the values of the two honeys analyzed here, with 24.5 and 28.3 g water/100 g honey. It is confirmed that the standard proposed by Vit et al. (1994) with a maximum of 30.0 is suitable for moisture content, the higher humidity of Meliphona honey may explain the higher acidity of this substance.

The content of fructose and glucose is similar for the two honey bee species, but the sucrose content doubles in Apis mellifera honey, which is found in taste sweeter. Both honeys have low ash content, especially honey M. beecheii, which may indicate different foraging behavior of bees or even differences between the locations of soil sampling.

Behavior of natural enemies

Natural enemies in the case of the Bees can have a significant influence on the people and productions of them. But these should never be a limiting factor to achieve levels of removal of species in their natural ecosystems.

What follows is a description of how these natural enemies are capable of preying on bee populations on earth.

Picture Honey Buzzard (Talmarchus caudifasciatus and Tirana’s Dominicans). These are two species of perching birds like to hunt near the apiary bees in flight. Have a preference for the queens and drones.

Lizards and Capuano (Anoles sag Riana and Leiocephalus craniates). These species of reptiles, iguanas, like to hide under the covers and out occasionally to hunt bees at the entrance.

Toads (Bufo sp.) They hide beneath the hives and the bees go out to hunt at night in a very peculiar, sticky tongue stretching and she quickly caught the Bees that are swallowed one by one with high accuracy without moving the site.

Sentinels ants. These bees sting and enter the hives, eat honey and kill the pups.

Then will then analyze the behavior of natural enemies for each of the areas that were taken for study.

Natural enemies in Ramon Gordo

In this area there were 49 attacks in the study period.

Natural enemies, ants caused most of the attacks, after the conclusion of the investigation, on a visit to the apiary, we observed that these attacks caused the destruction of 75% of existing hives.

The attacks of ants can avoid smearing the colonies supports motor grease.

Natural enemies in the Open

In this area, during the investigations were observed 39 attacks by predators above.

In this area, the top predator also remains the ant and in that order remains Toad, lizards and Picture a lesser extent, here in the areas of paddle is remarkable to emphasize that the influence of natural enemies is more divided between the four mentioned above, so that the weight of ants is not as significant as in the previous study area, the cause may be that the apiary is in the open only defended by a small roof.

Natural enemies in Canalled

In this area, during the investigations were observed 60 attacks from predators above.

In this area, remains the ant as the preponderance of natural enemy, but this time it closely follows the kingbird, on balance these two elements will be more careful about the healthy development of bee hives land.

Diseases

Of the 33 samples sent to the Laboratory Institute of Ecology and Systematic CITMA diseases and parasites did not appear, this shows that these aspects can influence the development of the bee land in the study area.

Conclusions

• The methods of handling bees Earth in the three apiaries are coincident, so it should tap the procedures that have had positive results (ie putting mesh in the walls of the apiary) and despise those with negative results (eg not take steps to prevent attacks by ants).

• In the study area there is great diversity of plant species enough honey to feed bees as much as those that already exist are underutilized.

• The largest proportion of flowering plants bees from the study area corresponds to the months of April, December and May, the latter being the peak month quantity of flowering plants.

• It was noted the destructive actions of natural enemies, supported by the views expressed in surveys and correspond with the results and findings of this work, these natural predators can destroy the apiaries of bees of the world if not taken action.

Ing Matanuska Ravel Pimentel and Dr. C. Fernando Hernandez Martinez – Cuba

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Introduction

Sting less bees, also known as Earth or Solitary Bees Bees, a group of organisms are Economically, socially and culturally important to Native Americans Because they have been a source of food and medicine for thousands of years. In some areas, traditional knowledge about the uses and benefits of the products of these bees are in danger of being lost, due to the reduction of human contact with the natural environment (Lopez, 2001).

Bee species are highly distributed in tropical and subtropical regions of the planet, but the Bees of the genus Meliphona are exclusive of the New World. In America there are a variety of insects, Which have the greatest representation in southern Brazil and northern countries of the Rio de la Plata.

With the exception of Chile, are found in almost all countries in South America. They live by all Central America and warmer parts of Mexico (Lutzy, 1992), there are altogether 66 species and subspecies of Meliphonas in Mexico, Central America and the Antilles. In contrast, Melipona fauna is very poor, with few Representatives in the Lesser Antilles near the continent. Not known in the Bahamas, Puerto Rico and neighboring islands. In Cuba and Jamaica there is a single species.

The most widespread species in Mexico is the Meliphona beecheii Bennett. It alone is in a state of domesticity, as ranchers prefer to be very docile and Because of its high yield of honey. A variety of this is found in Cuba and Jamaica, Meliphona beecheii variety fulvipea Guerin.

Hives of the land is in the category of “species of high economic value expected” (IUCN, 1978, Pimentel and Ravelo, 2007), however Despite making honey and wax, high quality has not been exploited commercially until now. The people of Cuba, from the Aborigines to the present, have used it as an additional source of food and home remedies.

According to the farmers the honey is very good palate, and has also been shown by science that has a high nutritional value. Some authors (Von Furstenberg, 1978 and Asibey and Child 1990) have noted the benefits of wildlife for the developing countries, specifically FAO-UNEP (1985), Kile (1987) and NRC (1991), highlighted Bees as insects most valuable land for honey production as pollinators, Which may be one of the main sources of income to develop in these countries.

Beekeeping is becoming more important every day as a source of resources and as a promoter of biodiversity due to its role in pollination, both trees and shrubs and agricultural crops.

The Conservation of sting less bees depends on the conservation of forests and vice versa, the Intention of its development is not only to rebuild and protect the land, but also to try to restore the ecological balance.

Many of the trees used by bees to sting less Establish their nests are native forest species, however, the information that there is little or dispersed. These bees already in use since per-Columbian times (before 1492) by Native Americans, are in danger of extinction along with forests, so you should Implement projects where both are the focus of attention.

Given the development of urban agriculture and agriculture in general in our country, every day the need for pollinators is greater. The study of Earth’s Bees (Meliphona beecheii), an alternative to pollinate in urban, semi urban and farming households, this would be a dream to achieve success and lead to Increasing agricultural yields Because Of Increased efficiency in pollination, a contribution to environmental conservation and awareness of most of our bees and of course a new source of income for people in the Cuban countryside.

This research was conducted in an area Belonging to the forest of the Cordillera de Guaniguanico (Sierra for the bodies), In which area, according to the opinion of The Residents and researchers (Pimentel and Ravelo, 2007), Bee Land is in danger of local extinction.

Problem: Insufficient knowledge of the captive management system of the bees to land (Meliphona beecheii) in three Apiaries in the forest of the Sierra of the organs.

Purpose: The captive management systems of the bees to land (Meliphona beecheii), used in three areas (Ramon Gordo, Paddle and El Abra) the forest of the Sierra of the organs.

Development

Honey production of native sting less bees (Melipona), has been a traditional activity in Cuba’s rural population living in mountainous and forested. Its economic importance has been Declining due to low productivity that Arises from various causes: lack of knowledge to spread the colonies, lack of hives with movable parts that enable timely review and assistant to the colonies with food, brood and pollen reserves, loss of forested areas where they used Pecorino and find nesting sites and lack of selection and propagation of queens.

In order to increase honey production and Ensure the profitability of the activity, aims to complement and integrate existing knowledge in technological systems, grounded in the conservation of forest resources and wildlife, are able to pay back the exploitation of beecheii Meliphona making, consequently, sustainable economic activity that constitutive relief for farmers.

Beekeeping has an important place in human life Because of the direct and indirect benefits that it provides, for example, about 30% of human food comes from plants pollinated by bees (O’Toole, 1994; Mac Gregory, 1976) estimates that more than 90 crops are benefiting from bee pollination to U.S. and only for the value of this service is estimated at 18 billion dollars (Sanford, 1998) and economic value of pollination leaves clear that the conservation of pollinators and natural systems are extremely important (Bachmann and Nathan, 1996).

It is known that many plants depend on insects for reproduction and that many of them disappear from the face of the earth without them. The land for bee foraging habits and anatomical structures, occupies a special place for this work. In recent years, have appeared on radio and written press, alarming news about the possible causes and the ecological disaster that would mean the disappearance of this beneficial insect Because of the mites and pesticides.

The Bee of the Earth (Meliphona beecheii)

The land bee is one of the least studied of the insect fauna Cuban Despite being an endemic and present prospects for its management and economic exploitation. In this review only deal with some features of this species.

Taxonomic Classification of Earth Bee (Schwarz, 2004).

Class: Insects.
Order: Hymenoptera.
Suborder: Apoidea.
Gender: Meliphona.
Family: Meliponidae.
Species: Meliphona beecheii.

Other authors argue that all social bees Apidae family belongs to the order Hymenoptera, Avoided super family, which include three subfamilies: bumblebees and euglosidos (Bambina), stingless bees (Meliponinae) and honey bees (Apis mellifera), introduced to America in the Sixteenth century, from Europe and Africa (Michener, 1994)

Ecology

The studies on the ecology of this species are of great significance for the design of a management methodology Bee Earth, while encouraging conservation.

In the American tropics Meliponinae bees of the subfamilies are numerous in species and individuals, according to 1991 and Micherer Roubik et al., 2006, who studied the architecture of nests, and other aspects of MELIPONINA of the Colombian Caribbean region.

The Melipona nests in almost any cavity that are available, from holes in trees, walls or floors, including grave in cemeteries (Nates, 1990), nests or nests abandoned Longhorn beetle live Termes (Mitchener 1994) and Ants (Parra, 1990) conditioning these sites to their needs are also capable of building nests exposed slopes of branches of trees or on walls of buildings.

The foundation of sting less bee nests is an event that also has many rituals. Wille and Orozco (1975) have observed this process in Part Mona Cupric and conclude that there is greater dependence of the hive mother, where food removed and building materials throughout the time of the founding of the nest. The queen or queens are the last to arrive at new nesting place and this happens when everything is organized.

Because of the use of large tracts of monoculture, the fragmentation of habitats and intensive farming among others, the populations of wild bees and pollination are addressed Impoverished crop has become a necessity for agriculture (William and Carreck, 1994).

Proceeds from the experience, traditionally, this has been done with Apis mellifera, however, every day sting less bees are used in countries like the U.S. and Japan, as the pollination of A. mellifera is often inefficient (O’Toole, 1994; Sanford, 1998). And sometimes to pollinate the crop area is very large compared with the number of colonies available, as in Israel and U.S. almonds, or beekeepers do not feel Encouraged Because of the costs of transportation of hives, Which can also occur mellifera Bees are not Attracted to the crop or are physically ill-adapted to pollinate. According to research by O’Toole (1994), wild bees include a diverse group grouped into seven families, comprising approximately 95% of the 20 000 bees known. Based on its nesting behavior can be divided into two groups: those that build nests on the ground and those that use PreExisting cavities.

Among the species of wild bees for pollination are used: Bombus terrestris, Megachile rotundata, Nomi melanderi, Osmia rufa, O. Cornuta, O. Lingerie and O. conformist (Heemert et al., 1990; Torchio, 1991; Batra, 1997 and Stubbs and Drummond, 1997).

Sting less bees, have developed a highly social organization and living in permanent settlements and multiply through swarms. Stingless bees occur in tropical and subtropical regions of all continents, of which about 400 known species (50 genera) of which more than 300 species are in Latin (Velthuis, 1997)

Sting less bees are organisms that have a high diversity in the tropics. It is estimated that there are over 400 species in America (Crane, 1994). This diversity is affected by over-exploitation of the resource and habitat alteration where you live (Veillon, 1977).

Knowledge of the breeding patterns of sting less bees, a better understanding of their adaptation to different habitats and will provide more information about the ethology of the group. The nests have been studied and described from different viewpoints by different authors (Chapman, 1970; Nogueira (1970), Wille and Michener (1973), Nates (1985), Parra (1990).

The MELIPONINA nest in almost any cavity that are available, from holes in trees, floor or walls, including grave in cemeteries (Nates, 1990), abandoned nests of Nasutitermes nests and ants live (Michener 1990), conditioning these sites to your needs, are also capable of building nests exposed slopes of branches of trees or on walls of buildings (Parra 1990).

The Heights to Which nests range from ground level, Which are underground and up to 12Mt. For Trigona amazonensis, it is notable the tendency of some species to nest near the towns, even within the dwellings and even in the tombs of the cemetery as happens most frequently in trogon narrow, Nanotrigona mellaria and trogon sp (Book out, 1994).

External architecture. In three main ways to build their nests:

• Nests covered.
• Nests exposed.
• Nests partially exposed or semi exposed.

Description of sting less bee generates

Gender Partamona: Made up of several species like Scaptotrigona and some species of the subgenus Trigona. Patrimony is distinguished by having yellow markings on the face and the conformation of the posterior tibia is enlarged and is occupied by a large spoon-shaped cubicle. Bees are markedly defensive biting, get tangled in your hair and are inserted into the holes in the face of intruders.

Usually make their nests of land, covered or semiexpuestos at the base of trees or stone walls, mud brick and wood and termite nests, living or abandoned. The trumpet-shaped entrance and internal features mazes. Externally it looks like a termite.

Nanotrigona Gender: Characterized by small bees are a very strong score in the head and chest. Nest in cavities in walls, in tombs of cemeteries. They make nests entries into tubes of wax. They are rather shy and elusive (Heywood and Watson 1995).

Genus Trigona (Kile, 1987): It is the largest genus of MELIPONINA and widely distributed. It generates Differs from other American (except Oxitrigona and Cephalotrigona), in the presence of a longitudinal elevation on the inner surface of the posterior tibia covered with short hairs and smooth. This genus Differs from Meliphona not only morphology but also by the architecture of the nests and caste determination systems. Nests trigona genres, as in honeycombs Meliphona are horizontal, but sometimes trigona are flat while others are built in a spiral. Usually nest in cavities of trees dead or alive.

Gender Tetragonisca (Kile, 1987) Bees are small, thin and delicate, the workers are Characterized by a very small pollen basket. They nest in almost any cavity that are available. The entrance to the nest is a tube of wax-colored, porous, usually impregnated with resins, to fend off occasional invaders. Are highly prized for the quality of their honey, so keep them in farmers in the vicinity of their homes housed in drawers, baskets, gourds, etc. ..

Flora honey

The bee flora of tropical America, has been little studied, only known pre-1959 work “honey plants of Cuba” (Roig, 1954) and review other sources of information on the subject, are just simple lists of plants of doubtful practical value to The Beekeeper; in them sometimes, no reference to the real sources of nectar, a species that Contribute in no small proportion to the harvest of honey.

Flora bee is called the set of plants Whose flowers the bees get the nectar and pollen. Knowledge of the flora, or plant nectar and polliniferous each individual region, time and duration of flowering, and their relative value as sources of nectar, pollen or both substances simultaneously, it is essential To achieve good results in the production of honey on a commercial scale (Roig, 1988).

At present, attempts to combine forest management with the Bees, so that the bees Obtain food and shelter, while the trees Ensure Consequently pollination and seed production viable and healthy for future forest regeneration (Swenson, 1991).

This change in attitude favors floral diversity within the flight range of bees. Recall that its flight range is usually between 600 and 2400 m (Biesmeijer, 1997) and that the remnants of forest between these distances and crops can provide adequate stocks of Bees (Heard, 1999) and produce more honey under conditions of ecological balance and multi -flower (Hill and Webster, 1995), plus small patches of flowers attract and maintain these pollinator populations by Providing food.

The pollination of native forest species, helps conserve watersheds and ecological niches. Thus beekeeping at the international level is an input directly involved in agricultural production in developed countries, where there is a culture of using pollination and clean technologies for the development of the sector (and Cawghley Grunn 1996).

Materials and methods

Characterization of the study area.

Geographical location and study area boundaries.

According to the current political-administrative division of the country the study area is located in the municipalities of La Palma (The Open and farms pipes) and Los Palacios (hatchery Ramon Gordo).

This study area belongs to the west of the island of Cuba and is located in a contact zone where impact various geographical sub-regions are: Sierra for the bodies, Boards Heights, Vales and Mountains karstic reason Guacamaya extraordinary variety of fauna, flora and landscape (Nunez, 1982, Gutierrez and Rivera, 1985 and Pimentel, 2003). The predominant heights: Pico Pico Grande and Chico (Ares, 1999).

Mapped area is located between the flat rectangular coordinates 313,150 to 326,000 to 335,150 mt and 268,400 mt, of the map sheets at 1:25 000 scale, issued by the Cuban Institute of Geodesy and Cartography (ICGC, 1982).

Characterization of vegetation

In the present study area the vegetation:

• semi-deciduous Forest Mogote.
• Riverside Forest or Gallery.
• Pine.
• Engineers.

The remaining floors are occupied by grasses (Ramon Gordo in the areas of livestock enterprises Camille Cienfuegos), and areas devoted to agricultural crops, including: Cassava, Sweet Potato, Snuff, Vegetables, Coffee, Other (corn, beans, rice).

The vegetation present in the area are Characterized based on investigations (Collective of authors, 2003) and summarized below.

Semi deciduous forest antler: Training tree with the presence of species that lose their leaves during periods of reduced rainfall. Shrubs and forbs are scarce, with little development of the abundance of lianas and epiphytes. There is presence of palms and species of sclerophyllous leaves hardened and sometimes prickly. It is distributed in plains and hilly. Like its predecessors, these forests have given modifications for use of their forest resources

Gallery or Riverside Forest: With trees ranging from 15 to 20 m, with the presence of shrubs, herbs, lianas and epiphytes. Is conditioned on the banks of rivers and streams and is formed by the surrounding vegetation species that are more dependent on sunlight, especially the Palms.

Pines or Pine Forest: Training tree with aciculifolias species, ie those Whose leaves or needles are composed of “needle” pine as they are commonly known, are developed on soils derived from shale. They have a tree layer, consisting of male pine (Pinus caribaea) and P. Female (Pinus tropical is) endemic species occupying the more arid lands.

In the shrub layer, highlighting the presence of an endemic species: The Guayabita Del Pinar (Psidium salutare) also are present Malagueta (Xylopra aromatic), cow crab (Curatella americana), Peralejo (Byrsonima crassifolia), Cordoba (Pachyahtus polretii). The herbaceous layer is very dense, especially when the density of pine trees is low, abounding grasses of the genus Andropogon, and various creepers and vines (Sablon, 1999).

Xeric Forest of Mogote: The hummocks of the Sierra of the bodies have a much richer vegetation than the others. These hills, are a complex of plant formations, Which have their own characteristics depending on the soil where they develop, differentiating on the basis of the hummocks with fertile soil and moist semi-deciduous forest vegetation rich in species, while the walls xerophytes dominated vegetation by a very open, with trees and shrubs, with few herbaceous plants. At the summits, the vegetation is dense shrub and emergent trees.

For its difficult access, this vegetation has been little altered and is rich in endemic species, among which are: la Palma de la Sierra (Gaussian princes), Oak Cayman (Ekmanianthes actinophylla), Sierra Cuba (Catalysis festivals), the protocols (Sparthelia brihonii) and other exclusive of the Sierra for the bodies. Others are also endemic to western Cuba, including carbon (Bombasts cube sis) (Rivera, 1998).

Forest Oak or Holm oak: The oak forest is otherwise present in acid soils. This forest has a tree layer formation consisting of the species Quercus sagraeana, the only real oak in Cuba (Sablon, 1982). This training is excessively influenced by human activity since the man has used for breeding swine, to avail the production of fat-rich acorns very nutritious.

Very soon we will read the Spanish edition of Echo Park, the penultimate novel by Michael Connelly. Roca Editorial, which has been made with publishing rights, announces the release for 11 February. The price 20,19 €. The translation of The Overlook still take months to arrive.

Moreover, according to his official website, Michael Connelly travel to Spain to promote their works between 24 and 29 February.

Visit Woodrow Wilson Drive to read more about Echo Park and Harry Bosch.