An Investigation of a Honeybee Collapse

Bees provide honey and pollinate hundreds of food crops including almonds, apples, citrus and vegetables. In 2006, beekeepers and scientists noticed a decline in the bee population. Because of bees' importance to our food supply, the strange deaths became a major concern. The problem is termed Bee Colony Collapse Disorder, or CCD, and research continues into its cause and a solution.

  1. The Problem

    • In late 2006, beekeepers in several countries noticed the disappearance of their bees. Early the next year, they realized all adults in their hives were gone, but the undeveloped juveniles remained. The percentage of bees lost over the 2006 to 2007 winter was much higher than would normally be expected. With bees needed to pollinate fruit, nut and vegetable crops, the hive collapse drew the attention of researchers.

    Possible Causes

    • Studies on hives that already suffered CCD began in 2007. Studies also started on healthy hives to monitor a variety of factors in case these hives collapse. The four contenders for causing CCD were viruses and bacteria, mites and other parasites, insecticides and environmental stress, or poor hive management. Research is now leaning toward a combination of viral and fungal problems killing the bees.

    Solutions

    • Because treating a problem that isn't the actual cause of CCD could further weaken the bees, scientists continue to isolate the cause of the disorder. Their aim is to isolate the virus and fungus, identify them and observe how they relate to the death of the bees. Once they know how the problem works, they can plan a solution. Currently, the best solution is to minimize stress on healthy bees so they can better fight off any illness.

    You Can Help

    • If you raise bees and have a collapsed hive, remove it immediately from your colony. Likewise, if you notice a decline in the population of one of your hives, isolate the hive so other bees aren't exposed to whatever is causing the problem. People who don't keep bees can help keep bees healthy by not spraying pesticides or herbicides on your yard, growing a variety of plants that attract bees, providing nest boxes for wild bees and placing small containers of sugar water around your garden as nectar supplements when flowers aren't blooming.