Understanding Colony Collapse Disorder

Quck answer

Colony Collapse Disorder (CCD) is a phenomenon that occurs when the majority of worker bees in a colony disappear, leaving behind a queen, a few drones, and some immature bees. The exact cause of CCD is still unknown, but scientists believe that a combination of factors, including pesticides, pathogens, and habitat loss, may be contributing to the decline of bee populations. When a colony experiences CCD, it can have devastating effects on agriculture and ecosystems, as bees are crucial pollinators for many crops and wild plants. Efforts are being made to mitigate CCD, such as promoting habitat restoration and reducing pesticide use, but more research is needed to fully understand and address this complex issue.

Wildlife

The next time you savor some delicious almonds, take a moment to appreciate the hard work of bees that pollinate the blossoms. See more insect photos.
В©iStockphoto/Todor Marholev

Many modern products are difficult to trace back to their origins. Have you ever considered the long journey your supper made to reach your kitchen table?

Commercial honeybees play a crucial role in pollinating food at the critical early stages of development. Modern farming practices, which have evolved from small family businesses to large, concentrated single-crop farming operations, require pollination management. When there aren’t enough existing bees in the area to handle the job, beekeepers are paid to bring their bees to help pollinate a crop.

Beekeeping is a massive industry, as seen during the almond pollination season. Migrating beekeepers bring over a million hives, packed with around 40 billion honeybees, to the vast California almond orchards every February. During the next few weeks, the bees pollinate 80 percent of the world’s almond crop, worth about $1 billion in exports [source: Agnew]. Many other crops, such as avocados, apples, cherries, and melons, depend on the work of bees too. Commercial honeybees pollinate an estimated $15 billion worth of crops in the U.S. each year [source: USDA].

But something alarming is happening in the beekeeping world. Maintaining healthy and active beehives has always been difficult because of issues with proper nutrition and health. However, Colony Collapse Disorder (CCD) has now reached new heights and is affecting an increasing number of hives.

Bees by the billions fly out to gather nectar and spread pollen but mysteriously don’t return to the hive. So why are bees disappearing, and where are they going? Let’s examine the scope of CCD on the following page.

Disappearing Bees

Originally, CCD was most prevalent in the U.S., but the condition has started to appear in other places. British beekeeper John Hamer tends to his bees at the Blackhorse Apiary Beekeeping Centre in St Johns.
Matt Cardy/Getty Images

Honeybees are social creatures and ideal pollinators for commercial beekeepers. They are easy to transport and manage and can pollinate many plants as they aren’t too picky about where their nectar comes from.

Beekeeping is a challenging occupation due to various factors that can complicate the rearing of honeybees. Mites and fungi can infest hives and cause health-related problems for the bees. Providing bees with all the necessary nutrition can be expensive and challenging, particularly as foraging land becomes scarcer. Bees can also disappear from their hives, causing a nasty surprise to their beekeeper. Colony Collapse Disorder (CCD) is a serious issue that has affected U.S. beekeepers since 2006, causing significant losses of managed hives. CCD is characterized by the inexplicable absence of the majority of a hive’s bees, and the cause of this phenomenon is still unknown. Researchers and apiarists are trying to find the possible causes of CCD, but they have not yet found one definitive answer. However, the evidence seems to be leaning towards the theory that CCD is caused by multiple factors working in tandem.

Colony Collapse Disorder (CCD) is a phenomenon that has been affecting bees for years, causing their numbers to dwindle. There are several possible causes of CCD, including the Israeli acute paralysis virus (IAPV), neonicotinoid pesticides, stress, and Varroa mites. IAPV was discovered in 2002 and can cause paralysis and death in bees, and while it’s not necessarily the sole cause of CCD, it is considered a possible trigger or marker. Neonicotinoid pesticides are neurotoxins used to protect crops, but they may also be harming bees. Stress from factors like pollination season extension and poor nutrition could disrupt bees’ immune systems, making them more susceptible to disease. Varroa mites are parasitic creatures that suck bees’ blood, leaving them vulnerable to other pathogens and fungi. Other factors being considered include the possibility of unknown pathogens or microorganisms and a lack of genetic diversity among bees. While there may be a perfect storm of dangerous elements affecting bees, bee populations frequently come into contact with each other, which can increase the risk of exposure to harmful factors. Scientists are working to find answers to CCD and hopefully develop solutions to protect bee populations.

Research on the Collapse of Bee Colonies

Bees rely on flowers to survive, so researchers are using their floral habits to monitor the health of bee populations.
В©iStockphoto/ululador

CCD is most commonly observed in commercially managed honeybees, but other species have also seen declines and hive abandonment. Scientists are comparing healthy hives with those affected by CCD to identify the underlying cause.

Researchers are also exploring alternative pollinators to replace honeybees, such as the blue orchard bee. However, it is becoming clear that CCD is caused by a combination of factors, making it difficult to find a solution.

Scientists have proposed several ideas to combat CCD, including breeding immune bees to create protected hives. Some regions have also banned pesticides that may harm bees, but researchers are finding a variety of chemicals within hives that could be contributing to CCD.

More research is needed to determine the cause of CCD. In the meantime, beekeepers can take steps to care for their hives, such as ensuring good nutrition and reducing stress. The Great Sunflower Project offers a simple way for bee enthusiasts to help gather data on bee populations by observing sunflowers and recording bee activity.

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Additional Information

Related Articles from HowStuffWorks

• All About Allergies
• Discovering How Bees Work
• Training Honeybees to Sniff Out Explosives
• Distinguishing Between Bees and Wasps
• The Life Cycle of Cicadas
• How Honeybees Produce Honey
• The Process of Evolution
• The Science Behind Mosquitoes
• Insect Trivia Quiz

More Useful Links

• The Great Sunflower Project
• NOVA: Tales from the Hive
• National Honey Board
• Texas A&M Honeybee Information Site
• The Xerces Society

Sources

• Agnew, Singeli. “The Almond and the Bee.” San Francisco Chronicle. 10/14/2007. (5/27/2008) http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2007/10/14/ CM2SS2SNO.DTL
• ARS News Service. “Imported Bees Not Source Of Virus Associated With Colony Collapse Disorder.” American Beekeeping Federation. 11/19/2007. (5/29/2008) http://www.abfnet.org/node/42
• Baker, Marvin. “Risky Beesness.” Minot Daily News. 5/29/2008. (5/29/2008) http://www.minotdailynews.com/page/content.detail/id/515617.html
• Barrionuevo, Alexei. “Honeybees, Gone With the Wind, Leave Crops and Keepers in Peril.” The New York Times. 2/27/2007. (5/29/2008) http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9E01EED91E3E F934A15751C0A9619C8B63
• Benjamin, Alison. “Pesticides: Germany bans chemicals linked to honeybee devastation.” The Guardian. 5/23/3008. (5/29/2008) http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/2008/may/23/wildlife. endangeredspecies?gusrc=rss&feed=networkfront
• “Bumble bees in decline.” The Xerces Society. (6/2/2008) http://www.xerces.org/bumblebees/index.html
• “CCD Overview.” United States Department of Agriculture. 9/6/2007. (5/27/2008) http://ars.usda.gov/Services/docs.htm?docid=15908
• Cline, Harry. “Production, price, demand earmarks of successful 2007-2008 California almond crop.” Western Farm Press. 1/29/2008. (5/29/2008) http://westernfarmpress.com/tree-nut-crops/almond-price-0108/
• Curry, Andrew. “German Beehives Hit by Mass Die-Off.” BusinessWeek. 5/12/2008. (5/29/2008) http://www.businessweek.com/globalbiz/content/may2008/gb 20080512_795081.htm?chan=globalbiz_europe+index+page_top+stories
• Frazier, M. et al. “FAQ’s Colony Collapse Disorder.” CCD Working Group. 3/2007. (5/29/2008) http://maarec.cas.psu.edu/FAQ/FAQCCD.pdf
• “Honey Bee Losses Continue to Rise in the U.S.” Science Daily. 5/26/2008. (5/29/2008) http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/05/080521205303.htm
• Lean, Geoffrey and Harriet Shawcross. “Are mobile phones wiping out our bees?” The Independent. 4/15/2007. (5/27/2008) http://www.independent.co.uk/environment/nature/are-mobile-phones- wiping-out-our-bees-444768.html
• Morton, James et al. “Managing Varroa.” Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs. 6/2005. (6/2/2008) http://beebase.csl.gov.uk/pdfs/managing_varroa.pdf
• Minkel, JR. “Mysterious Honeybee Disappearance Linked to Rare Virus.” Scientific American. 9/7/2007. (5/27/2008) http://www.sciam.com/article.cfm?id=bees-ccd-virus
• Read, Tracy. “They’ll bee right back.” News Herald. 5/20/2008. (5/29/2008) http://www.zwire.com/site/news.cfm?newsid=19703559&BRD=1698& PAG=461&dept_id=21849&rfi=6
• “Recording Sample Data.” The Great Sunflower Project. (5/29/2008) http://www.greatsunflower.org/en/recording-sample-data
• Vidal, John. “UK honeybee population in crisis as winter weather devastates colonies.” The Guardian. 5/8/2008. (5/29/2008) http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/2008/may/08/wildlife.endangered species
• Wilson, Tracy. “How Bees Work.” HowStuffWorks. (5/27/2008) https://animals.howstuffworks.com/insects/bee8.htm

FAQ

1. What is Colony Collapse Disorder?

Colony Collapse Disorder (CCD) is a phenomenon that occurs when worker bees in a honey bee colony suddenly disappear, leaving behind the queen bee and a few young bees. The colony is unable to sustain itself without the worker bees and eventually dies out.

2. What are the symptoms of CCD?

The main symptom of CCD is the sudden disappearance of worker bees from the colony. Other symptoms include a lack of dead bees in and around the hive, the presence of queen bees and young bees, and food stores that are left untouched.

3. What causes CCD?

The exact cause of CCD is not known, but it is believed to be a combination of factors, including pesticide exposure, habitat loss, and disease. Additionally, stress factors such as transportation of bees for pollination, overcrowding in hives, and poor nutrition may also contribute to CCD.

4. Why are honey bees important?

Honey bees are important pollinators for many crops, including fruits, vegetables, and nuts. They are responsible for pollinating approximately one-third of the food that we eat. Additionally, honey bees produce honey, beeswax, and other products that are used for food and other purposes.

5. How does CCD affect agriculture?

CCD can have a significant impact on agriculture because honey bees are important pollinators for many crops. Without honey bees, the production of fruits, vegetables, and nuts would be greatly reduced, which would lead to higher prices and reduced availability of these foods.

6. Can CCD be prevented?

There is no surefire way to prevent CCD, but there are steps that beekeepers can take to reduce the risk. This includes reducing the use of pesticides, providing adequate nutrition for the bees, and avoiding stress factors such as overcrowding and transportation for pollination.

7. How can we help honey bees?

There are several ways that we can help honey bees, including planting bee-friendly flowers and plants, reducing pesticide use, and supporting local beekeepers by buying honey and other bee products. Additionally, we can support efforts to protect honey bee habitats and promote research into the causes and prevention of CCD.

8. What is being done to address CCD?

Efforts to address CCD include research into the causes and prevention of the disorder, as well as the development of new management techniques for beekeepers. Additionally, there are programs and initiatives aimed at protecting honey bee habitats and reducing pesticide use.

9. What is the future of honey bees?

The future of honey bees is uncertain, but there is hope that efforts to protect honey bee habitats and reduce stress factors such as pesticide use will help to prevent a further decline in honey bee populations. Additionally, research into the causes and prevention of CCD may lead to new management techniques and strategies for beekeepers.