The honey bee population is facing catastrophic losses again. There has been a fairly consistent die off happening for the last twenty five years. In fact, according to Penn State, the population is less than half than what it was 25 years ago. The new loss of the bees is a mystery yet to be explained.

I have an ongoing concern about pollinators. Pollinators, in general have been hard hit by the dramatic increase in usage of home pesticides and destruction of habitat in urban environments. The bee and wasp species are the target of humans who fear them, or from the commercials come to believe they are a threat. However, without pollinators there would be few crops, flowers or trees. In other words, a dead world.

The current decimation is being called Colony Collapse Disorder. It was apparently first reported in Pennsylvania, but there are now 22 states (including Washington and California) reporting the same symptoms. It is estimated that there is a 50 percent die-off where CCD is reported. However, Pennsylvania is now reporting a 75 percent die-off.

The symptoms of CCD are strange enough to raise significant questions. Here are the characteristics of Colony Collapse Disorder as listed by the Canadian Honey Council:

1) In collapsed colonies - The complete absence of adult bees in colonies, with no or little build up of dead bees in the colonies or in front of those colonies. - The presence of capped brood in colonies. - The presence of food stores, both honey and bee bread i. which is not immediately robbed by other bees ii. when attacked by hive pests such as wax moth and small hive beetle, the attack is noticeably delayed.

2) In cases where the colony appear to be actively collapsing
- An insufficient workforce to maintain the brood that is present
- The workforce seems to be made up of young adult bees
- The queen is present
- The cluster is reluctant to consume provided feed, such as sugar syrup and protein supplement.

While all of the symptoms are strange, most troubling is that other bees and pests are not invading the hives, and that the remaining bees are reluctant to eat. In the first case, it appears that something is present in the infected hives which are detectable in both bee bread and honey. The later is alarming, because it would seem that remaining bees are also sick. Apparently there are large numbers of disease agents in the CCD hives Penn State news release). The presence of so many disease organisms would appear to be reflective of immune suppression in the hives.

It is my understanding that the US has been heavily importing honey bees from Australia for some time. Apparently to supplement hives because of the loss of bees to varroa mites which have become a big problem all on their own. According to the Discovery Channel report CCD is also being reported in Australia. I can find no information to speak of regarding the problem in Australia, and the only concern raised that I did find was the concerns about quarantined pests present in Australian bee material into the US.

The real impacts of CCD will likely be seen as we move into spring. One would assume that it will spread to other states as it is common to transport hives around the country for crop pollination.(Both bizarre and telling if you think about it). This could be devastating to agriculture in the Northwest which has major fruit, nut, and wine industries - all of which are dependent on the honey bees.

To track reports on Colony Collapse Disorder check Mid-Atlantic Apiculture.

Other Articles:
Discovery Channel - Honey Bee Die-off Alarms Beekeepers

AP, Armas, Mystery Ailment Strikes Honeybees