FEATURESTORY
by Greg Long
Saving Bees from Colony
Collapse Disorder
C
olony Collapse Disorder has been affecting bees throughout the world
for several years. According to the EPA, this phenomenon "occurs
when the majority of worker bees in a colony disappear and leave be-
hind a queen." There typically is plenty of food left at the hive, which
makes the situation all the more perplexing. Only a few nurse bees are left to
care for the remaining immature bees and the queen, as well.
This problem first appeared after the winter of 2006-2007. Beekeepers started
noticing and reporting an unusually high number of bee loss in their hives. As
many as 50% of all affected colonies demonstrated symptoms inconsistent with
any known causes of honey bee death, leading to the conclusion that it must be
a result of the Colony Collapse Disorder.
What is causing this drastic decline in the bee population? No one can say for
sure, although according to NRDC, there are three major theories.
Potential Causes of Colony Collapse Disorder
Global Warming
The main thought process behind this theory is that global
warming is causing the flowers and plants to bloom either earlier
or later than usual. When the bees come out to pollinate, the flow-
ers that they are looking for may already be in bloom, or they are
nowhere near being close to ready for pollination.
Pesticides
The second theory of the cause of Colony Collapse Disorder is
the use of pesticides on large farm lands. Pesticides meant to elimi-
nate pests from farmland can still harm and kill bees, even though
that is not the intention.
May 2018
www.GardenandGreenhouse.net
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