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The Case Of The Vanishing Bees

http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2007/02/13/eveningnews/main2471672.shtml

This is a problem.

2/26/2007 6:18:39 PM

Auburn Maine, USA

Strange. Hopefully this is a temporary thing

2/26/2007 6:24:44 PM

Greencastle, PA

I mentioned that in middle school and people looked at me like I was crazy.

2/26/2007 7:41:32 PM

Clayton Cal

they are calling it CCD colony callapse disorder. when this hapend in the 60"s they called it the disapering disease. but now belive it is not a disease.maybe a multitude of over treating chemicals for mites.and enviormental problemes like geniticaly modified pollen.nature will balance it self. I hope. thad shirley

2/26/2007 7:54:35 PM

Waitakere New Zealand

we have a thing called varora mite that infests hive and weakens the colony eventually killing the hive came into NZ about 3 years ago and is still creating havoc in the bee industry. I think it came in on some untreated honey. there are now no wild hives in the north island and hobby bee keepers have a difficult time controling the mite.

2/27/2007 2:44:08 AM

Clayton Cal

varoa mites weaken the colony and the biger picture is that they are vector hosts for at least 12 diferent viruses that bees can not overcome.bees can tolarate some mite load, but not the viruses .i think NZ has strictor rules for treating varoa with chemicals than the US. over compansating with chemicals can have devastating impact.i hope NZ dose not make the mistakes that the US made.your concern for honey bees rates high with me. thad shirley (side note-your fearal colonys will come back in time)

2/27/2007 2:20:05 PM

Bethlehem CT

I heard somewhere that some people suspect merit or another systemic pesticide as a possible cause for this. Has anyone else heard this? I do sometimes wonder about the affect it might have on the bees it is so heavily used on lawns for grub control, any flowering shrubs or trees nearby take up the chemical in there roots and it's systemic action will now be at work in the flowering plants also. Am I right about this?

2/27/2007 5:55:55 PM

Clayton Cal

yes you are. one more thing to think about is people belive if it works good then stronger dose will work better, over aply makes tolorance go up ,and efectivnes go down. (they call that the moron disease) most important is to observe and follow the bee warning on the label, (side note-most field pumpkins are pollinated by bees) thad shirley

2/27/2007 7:23:22 PM