An Evaluation of the Devastating Decline of Nature’s Best Pollinator Connecticut’s Honey Bee Crisis Image retrieved from http://images.wisegeek.com/ bee-on-yellow-flower-with-pollen.jpg Image retrieved from http://www.pestworld.org/pest-guide/stinging-insects/honeybees/ For the past 60 years, honey bee populations have been declining all across the U.S. 3.5 million colonies (beehives) lost from 1947 – 2014 Loss attributed to: Pesticide use Loss of habitat Disease Climate change Honey bee populations saw slight increase in 2015 but are still several million bees below past population size (Hladky, 2016) The Decline of the Honey Bee Number of Honey Bee Colonies (in millions) Number of Colonies Lost (in milions) 1947 1970 1990 2014 2015 2016 6 4 3 2.5 2.87 2.59 Connecticut one of the hardest hit states Recent honey bee colony losses at an all-time high: 2014 – 2015: 57.5% loss 2015 – 2016: near 50% loss Increasing number of bees lost in Summer months when they should be thriving Beekeepers not able to replace lost colonies at a sustainable rate Surviving colonies are being divided to create new ones Overall health of bee colonies suffer as a result Statewide conditions are not conducive to best support bee population Agriculture is suffering due to massive honey bee loss Honey bees responsible for pollinating large majority of the state’s $3.5 billion agricultural industry (Boughton, 2013) Connecticut’s Troubles with Honey Bees How to Combat Honey Bee Loss Restore essential honey bee habitats to the point where colonies are able to survive sustainably Mass plantings of bee-friendly plants and flowering trees such as goldenrod, lavender and tupelo (Baskind, 2011) Designate protected areas for bees to establish colonies naturally Wooded areas with hollowed out trees Areas that allow beehives to thrive with minimal interference and disturbance (Baskind, 2011) Increase number of beehives managed by beekeepers both commercially and privately Reduce/manage threats to honey bee colony survival Eliminate wide use of pesticides that are harmful to bees such as neonicotinoids Manage common pests that plague bee colonies Varroa mites (cited by beekeepers as largest contributor to colony destruction) Hive beetles Wax moths (“ARS Honey”, 2016) Rising cost of purchasing/renting beehives Causes additional financial burden to beekeepers Beekeepers can no longer afford to manage the number of colonies they have had in the past (“Fact Sheet”, 2014) Substantial amounts of land needed to establish a beneficial number of healthy bee colonies Land availability for other things such as agriculture, development would be reduced Reduced land use could decrease profits generated from agriculture, development, etc. Cost of Restoring Honey Bee Habitats Photo by Amy Toensing, National Geographic Creative (Retrieved from http://news.nationalgeographic.com/ 2015/08/150815-honeybee-honey-pollination-science) Finding bee-friendly a.

1. An Evaluation of the Devastating Decline of
Nature’s Best Pollinator
Connecticut’s
Honey Bee
Crisis
Image retrieved from http://images.wisegeek.com/
bee-on-yellow-flower-with-pollen.jpg
Image retrieved from http://www.pestworld.org/pest-
guide/stinging-insects/honeybees/
For the past 60 years, honey bee populations have been
declining all across the U.S.
3.5 million colonies (beehives) lost from 1947 – 2014
Loss attributed to:
Pesticide use
Loss of habitat
Disease
Climate change
Honey bee populations saw slight increase in 2015 but are still
several million bees below past population size
(Hladky, 2016)
The Decline of the Honey Bee
Number of Honey Bee Colonies
(in millions)
Number of Colonies Lost (in milions) 1947 1970 1990 2014
2015 2016 6 4 3 2.5 2.87 2.59

2. Connecticut one of the hardest hit states
Recent honey bee colony losses at an all-time high:
2014 – 2015: 57.5% loss
2015 – 2016: near 50% loss
Increasing number of bees lost in Summer months when they
should be thriving
Beekeepers not able to replace lost colonies at a sustainable rate
Surviving colonies are being divided to create new ones
Overall health of bee colonies suffer as a result
Statewide conditions are not conducive to best support bee
population
Agriculture is suffering due to massive honey bee loss
Honey bees responsible for pollinating large majority of the
state’s $3.5 billion agricultural industry
(Boughton, 2013)
Connecticut’s Troubles with Honey Bees
How to Combat Honey Bee Loss
Restore essential honey bee habitats to the point where colonies
are able to survive sustainably
Mass plantings of bee-friendly plants and flowering trees such
as goldenrod, lavender and tupelo (Baskind, 2011)
Designate protected areas for bees to establish colonies
naturally
Wooded areas with hollowed out trees
Areas that allow beehives to thrive with minimal interference
and disturbance (Baskind, 2011)
Increase number of beehives managed by beekeepers both
commercially and privately
Reduce/manage threats to honey bee colony survival
Eliminate wide use of pesticides that are harmful to bees such

3. as neonicotinoids
Manage common pests that plague bee colonies
Varroa mites (cited by beekeepers as largest contributor to
colony destruction)
Hive beetles
Wax moths
(“ARS Honey”, 2016)
Rising cost of purchasing/renting beehives
Causes additional financial burden to beekeepers
Beekeepers can no longer afford to manage the number of
colonies they have had in the past (“Fact Sheet”, 2014)
Substantial amounts of land needed to establish a beneficial
number of healthy bee colonies
Land availability for other things such as agriculture,
development would be reduced
Reduced land use could decrease profits generated from
agriculture, development, etc.
Cost of Restoring Honey Bee Habitats
Photo by Amy Toensing, National Geographic Creative
(Retrieved from http://news.nationalgeographic.com/
2015/08/150815-honeybee-honey-pollination-science)
Finding bee-friendly alternatives to deadly pesticides
Would require extensive research & experimentation
Could prove to be more costly
Alternative pesticides may be harmful other organisms
Other alternatives, such as adopting organic agricultural
practices, may make it considerably challenging to protect crops
from infestations on a large scale
Requires large amounts of resources
Extensive planning by state government needed to determine

4. best areas to designate for habitat projects
Process could be time consuming
Planning and actual development stage may take years to
complete
Funding
Depending on extent of restoration efforts, costs could quickly
escalate
State government would have to create a way to fund habitat
projects that would not be overly taxing on the overall state
budget
Additional Costs of Habitat Restoration
Increased pollination/productivity of crops
Bees are one of the largest contributors to successful pollination
of most crops such as fruits, vegetables, nuts
More bees = more productive crops (higher yields)
Food security/diversity
(“Save”, n.d.)
Increased Agricultural Profits
Higher crop yields create the potential for significant increases
in revenue generated by agriculture
Bees are needed to pollinate wildflowers and many other plants
that provide food for many animals and insects (Leonard, 2015)
Bees make honey which is both tasty and a heathier alternative
to sugar
Benefits of Restoring Honey Bee Habitats
Photo: Tambako the Jaguar/flickr)
Photo retrieved from http://beethings.
co.za/index.php/about-us
Significant amounts of crops could potentially be lost during the

5. transition from pesticides to alternative practices
No way to know all of the negative effects or losses that may
occur due to changes
Difficulty Implementing new legislation
New laws/regulations would need to be created and enforced by
state governments
May require the institution of new government funded agencies
to enforce new legislation
Could lead to years of debate and deliberations for all parties
involved (farmers, agricultural industries, state law makers) to
reach agreeable terms on how to address the problem
Determining possible alternatives to current harmful pesticides
would be expensive
Extensive, costly experimentation required
If different pesticides are used, they may be less cost-effective
than those currently used
Organic agricultural practices may not be as effective in
reducing pests
Possible extensive crop damage
Would require more physical effort and new innovative methods
to prevent pests
Costs Associated with Reducing Threats to Honey Bee
Population
Eliminating pesticides that are harmful to honey bees will
greatly increase the chances of restoring a sustainable, abundant
population size
Less stress and disturbance imposed upon honey bee colonies
Will result in healthier, more productive colonies
Will lessen the financial burden on private and commercial
beekeepers
Reduced threats to bees = less colonies that beekeepers must
replace = lower expenses for beekeepers

6. Positive environmental impact
Natural services that honey bees provide to humans, plants and
animals will remain available for years to come
Conservation of honey bees can also contribute to improved
water and soil quality
(”Conservation”, 2015)
Benefits of Reducing Threats to Honey Bees
Photos retrieved from http://www.huffingtonpost.com/
2014/06/17/store-without-bees_n_5500380.html
Connecticut government officials must find a feasible,
affordable way to restore honey bee habitats statewide
This is the only way to ensure continued survival of honey bee
populations
The success of the state’s agricultural industry is dependent
upon pollination that only honey bees can provide
Funds could possibly be raised by various environmental
groups; state budget should be altered as necessary to allow for
funding of habitat restoration
Alternative pesticides/ pest control methods are a must
Although these may be more expensive initially, the benefits
will ultimately greatly outweigh the additional costs
Probable increase of agricultural profits would provide
additional funding necessary for other important state projects
Exploration and experimentation of possible alternatives should
begin as soon as possible
The issue of honey bee decline should be addressed sooner
rather than later to avoid further losses
How should this issue be addressed?

7. Baskind, Chris. (2011, May 3). 5 ways to help our disappearing
bees. Retrieved from http://www.mnn.com/
earthmatters/wilderness-resources/stories/5-ways-to-help-
our-disappearing-bees
Boughton, Kathryn. (2013, August 22). Connecticut No Land
For Honeybees. Retrieved from http://www.
countytimes.com/articles/2013/08/22/business/doc52161bb
1cda06770952892.txt?viewmod e=4
Conservation Work for Honey Bees. (2015, May). Retrieved
from http://www.nrcs.usda.gov/wps/portal
/nrcs/detail/national/plantsanimals/pollinate/?cid=stelprdb
1263263
Fact Sheet: The Economic Challenge Posed by Declining
Pollinator Populations. (2014, June 20). Retrieved from
https://www.whitehouse.gov/the-press-
office/2014/06/20/fact-sheet-economic-challenge-posed-
declining-
pollinator-populations
Hladky, Gregory B. (2016, May 11). Connecticut Continues To
Suffer Massive Loss of Honeybees. Retrieved from
http://www.courant.com/news/connecticut/hc-ct-bee-
losses-20160511-story.html
Save the Bees. (n.d.) Retrieved from
http://www.greenpeace.org/usa/sustainable-agriculture/save-the-
bees/
Leonard, Jayne. Here’s Why We Need To Save The Bees + 10
Things You Can Do To Help. (2015, June 12). Retrieved from
http://www.naturallivingideas.com/save-the-bees/
References

8. $20
Need all the following done that is listed below.
I will record the speech once you write it. The speech must last
3 to 4 mintues.
Please write speech as if you are speaking.
Assignment 4: Special Occasion Speech Three items worth 150
points total:
Assignment Item
Due Date
Points
Outline
Week 9
25
Speech (3–4 min.)
Week 10
95
You’ve reached the final step of your effective speaking
journey! In this course, you’ve learned about the power of
effective speaking by developing and delivering introductory,
informative, and persuasive speeches. Your last assignment is to
prepare and deliver a special occasion speech.
Special occasion speeches are different from the other types of
speeches you’ve given. You’ll develop this speech around the
purpose of the special occasion, which you can choose from the
four options listed in Step 2.
Instructions: In order to obtain full credit for this assignment,
please complete all steps below. You may want to print this

9. assignment and check off each step as you completeit.
STEP 1: Select a Topic
Topic Bank
(Choose only one topic.)
Speech of Introduction
Introduce a classmate whom you have nominated for the “Most
Effective Speaker” award in your COM201 course.
Speech of Acceptance
You have been given an award for the “Most Persuasive
Speech” and must give an acceptance speech at an awards
banquet to close the night.
Speech of Presentation
Your instructor is being honored with an “Outstanding Learning
Award” at a local Strayer University sponsored event and you
have been asked to present the award.
Commemorative Speech

10. Topic Examples: (Choose your own topic)
· Paying tribute to Elie Wiesel
· Paying tribute to the Make-A-Wish Foundation
STEP 2: Create an Outline (due Week 9)
· Create an outline or speaking notes in Microsoft Word. A
sample template is available in the “Assignment 4: Outline”
section located in Week 9 of your course.
· Structure and organize your speech so you’ll stay within the 4-
minute time limit.
· Go to the Week 9 “Assignment 4: Outline” section and upload
separately.
STEP 3: Deliver, Record, and Upload Your Speech (due Week
10)
· Go to the Week 10 “Assignment 4: Special Occasion Speech”
section and click the link under “Instructions” to access Speech
Assignment Submission Instructions.
· Refer to your outline to deliver your speech. Do not read your
notes word for word. Make sure you record your speech
delivery with a computer, phone, or tablet.
· Watch your recording. Do you want to submit it, or do you
want to record another version?
· Go to the Week 10 “Assignment 4: Special Occasion Speech”
section and upload your speech. For additional help recording
and uploading your speech, go to the “Course Tool Help” link in
the left-hand navigation bar in Blackboard and review the
Speech Assignment Submission Guide located under “Kaltura
Media and Webcam Recorder Help.”
Discussion Question
A Speech for Every Occasion
· What makes a special occasion?

11. · How can you apply, to special occasion speeches, the speaking
skills you have worked on throughout the term?
· Share a special occasion speech you gave or heard (or find a
recorded one online and share the link). What made the speech
effective? What can you apply from that experience to your own
communication skillset?