Dr. Hassan and colleagues discovered the boozy bee phenomenon while looking at beekeeping practices in Kenya. Apparently, local beekeepers were feeding the bees weak sugar solutions that often fermented. Since many beekeepers do feed sugar syrup during marginal times, this brings into focus another possible reason colonies might suffer either autumn collapse or spring dwindling of populations. Most everyone knows that honey bees are beneficial for their pollinating activities. Biological control is the use of bacteria, fungi, other pathogens and predators to attack agricultural pests.
Biological control targets specific pests with just as specific controls.
This technology is an attractive alternative to pesticides. Outbreaks of fire blight in apple orchards are the result of a lack of competing beneficial bacteria in blooms. This imbalance results in an epidemic population of a bacterium called Erwinia amylovora , which invades the flower parts causing damage. The problem, therefore, can be controlled by introducing beneficial bacteria as competition. That's where the bees come in.