Believe it or not, bees are the foundation of the human food chain; in other words - without bees we would not be able to eat. Yes, those buzzing insects that can sometimes appear threatening with their infamous stingers are the backbone of the majority of our food production, from fruits and nuts, to vegetables and flowers. In 2006, a startling phenomenon occurred in the United States and abroad: it was discovered that over one-third of all bee colonies had vanished. While the reasons for this upsetting trend were largely unknown, it has been deduced that harmful insecticides are the culprits causing the massive bee disappearance, known as colony collapse disorder. Other factors such as environmental stressors and disease are also seen to be contributing factors to bees’ decline. Happily, people have begun to take notice, and actively work to reverse the gloomy predicament by mobilizing to ban insecticides and operating nonprofits that are raising awareness and providing technology for people to come to the rescue of bees. Buff up on your bee facts so that you may be an advocate for these fascinating creatures, who have a major impact on our lives.