More on Colony Collapse Disorder
I wrote previously about the theory that cell phone radiation was causing honeybees to become disoriented leading to Colony Collapse Disorder (CCD).
The New York Times [reg. req.] has an article describing more theories, suggesting that pathogens and/or pesticides may be the cause of the problem.
The volume of theories “is totally mind-boggling,” said Diana Cox-Foster, an entomologist at Pennsylvania State University. With Jeffrey S. Pettis, an entomologist from the United States Department of Agriculture, Dr. Cox-Foster is leading a team of researchers who are trying to find answers to explain “colony collapse disorder,” the name given for the disappearing bee syndrome.
“Clearly there is an urgency to solve this,” Dr. Cox-Foster said. “We are trying to move as quickly as we can.”
Dr. Cox-Foster and fellow scientists who are here at a two-day meeting to discuss early findings and future plans with government officials have been focusing on the most likely suspects: a virus, a fungus or a pesticide.
Bee autopsies are being performed as you read this.
The investigation is now entering a critical phase. The researchers have collected samples in several states and have begun doing bee autopsies and genetic analysis.
It’s possible the bees are getting lost because they get moved around so much. Maybe they have some kind of bee jet lag. Or is it too many bee power bars?
Honeybees are arguably the insects that are most important to the human food chain. They are the principal pollinators of hundreds of fruits, vegetables, flowers and nuts. The number of bee colonies has been declining since the 1940s, even as the crops that rely on them, such as California almonds, have grown. In October, at about the time that beekeepers were experiencing huge bee losses, a study by the National Academy of Sciences questioned whether American agriculture was relying too heavily on one type of pollinator, the honeybee.
Bee colonies have been under stress in recent years as more beekeepers have resorted to crisscrossing the country with 18-wheel trucks full of bees in search of pollination work. These bees may suffer from a diet that includes artificial supplements, concoctions akin to energy drinks and power bars. In several states, suburban sprawl has limited the bees’ natural forage areas.
Poor things. We’ve become a nation of migrant worker bees. Maybe they just don’t know where home is anymore.
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April 24th, 2007 at 11:28 am
I have just written a brief article about the Honeybee crisis which you might find of interest http://insects.suite101.com/article.cfm/bee_crisis
April 24th, 2007 at 2:26 pm
Someone should lobby for laws to keep the foreign bees from taking jobs from American bees.