UCCE's Eric Mussen on Good Morning America

UC Davis Cooperative Extension apiculturist Eric Mussen appeared on ABC's Good Morning America today in an interesting nearly four-minute-long segment on bees. The story opened with scenes from a 1978 horror movie "The Swarm," and then dispelled myths about Africanized honey bees, aka "Killer Bees."

Mussen said contrary to bees' portrayal in movies, "Bees are not out to get you. You probably can't get further from the truth."

The story then turned to colony collaspe disorder and its threat to the American food supply.

"Approximately one-third of the daily diet here in the United States is dependent upon honeybee pollination," Mussen said.

He added that scientists are looking at diseases, parasites and chemicals as possible culprits.

"Unfortunately, there is no one particular thing we can point to and say, aha, there it is," Mussen said.

The segment ended with a dour message from beekeeper David Hackenberg.

"If we don't fix this problem," he said, "there ain't going to be no blueberries and cucumbers and apples in your grocery store."

Eric Mussen on GMA.

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