Another issue the industry is facing is a mite has been devastating honeybee colonies throughout the United States.

"We had 5.9 million honeybee colonies after World War II," he said, "and 2.7 million by 1995."

They tested various blends on honeybee colonies from which the queens had been removed, using glass "pseudo queens" instead.

Britain was one of the few countries that abstained from agreeing to this plan despite current tests being woefully inadequate for protecting honeybee colonies.

Isolated honeybee colonies and other insect species also reappeared.

In a study conducted in Georgia, privet was found to decreases the diversity of native honeybee colonies.

The American wild honeybee virtually died out last winter and, in some states, 80 percent of commercial honeybee colonies died out as well.

They feed on termites, honeybee colonies and fruits.

"We can be sure that within a year, and certainly within two years, they will have overrun all honeybee colonies in the country," he said.

Farmers often rent honeybee colonies from apiculturists.