In 2017 alone, 44% of bees died off. In recent years, bees were declared an endangered species– and the population has been declining since the 1990s. The total decline has reached a saddening 87%, according to NBC.

A chemical form of insecticides (called neonicotinoids) used in agriculture, medicine, and industry to kill off insects, is believed to be at fault for the dwindling number of bees.

Neonicotinoids are also chemically similar to nicotine– which is bad for the human body, even in small amounts. Now, imagine how the large amounts of this substance is affecting bees.

Agriculturalists are using excessive amounts of insecticides, which is causing more harm than help.

A study done by an organization called GreenPeace proved that “some insecticides, at concentrations applied routinely in the current chemical-intensive agriculture system, exert clear, negative effects on the health of pollinators.’=”

If the usage of these pesticides is not reduced, bees will go extinct in years to come.

Though many individuals find bees frightening, they are very necessary to our ecosystem.

For example, Olivia Cadena (sophomore) stated, “I am not scared of the decline in bees because I do not like them.”

A lot of people are unaware of the consequences we will face for killing them off.

“Bees just make honey, their impact isn’t much in this world,” Sophia O’Dell (sophomore) said.

However, bees impact the human race in great proportion.

For most people, bees are just an unimportant irritation. Yet, it is estimated that when the bees completely die off, we will have only a maximum of four years to live.

This is because the pollination of bees is crucial to grow crops. If they cease to exist, so will our food. Therefore, we need to protect them.

Though bees are rather small, they have a huge impact and need to be conserved.

People automatically assume that bees are unfriendly and harmful creatures that do no good– and awareness is at an all time low. Organizations are being built up, but they are not enough.

Citizens need to fully comprehend the issue at hand, and take action to help save the bees. If things do not start changing soon, it will be too late.