I just came across an article about a bee plague that threatens Croatia at the moment. It is so warm this winter that the poor insects figure it is spring already. They leave the beehives in search of food, but cannot find any. Many of them perish in the process. In addition, high temperatures induce the production of young bees that require additional food, which means that the existing stores of food are depleted quicker than under normal circumstances. The bees are thus dying in droves. In short, Croatian beekeepers are pretty worried about the unusually warm weather this winter. It has become yet another bee killer on top of a wide variety of pesticides. Of course, the trouble is that bees are essential in fertilizing many crops, as well as that these crops serve as food for domestic animals and eventually humans. At any rate, I can already imagine the day when beekeepers will be forced to haul their beehives to ski resorts for a proper winter. Or else.