>> What’s colony collapse disorder? According to the USDA, it’s a syndrome that began in fall 2006 where adult honey bees in a hive started disappearing while immature bees and honey remained. “A survey of managed hives done in fall and winter 2007 by the Bee Research Lab and the Apiary Inspectors of America showed that beekeepers lost about 35 percent of their hives [in 2007] compared to 31 percent in 2006.”
>> What’s the cause of CCD? There’s no conclusive answer, as of yet, but the USDA speculates the cause may be “a perfect storm of existing stresses.” According to Salon:
These stresses include pesticides, a pathogenic gut microbe called Nosema, and the frequent relocation of hives as the beekeepers migrate with the crops. Most recently, researchers are examining a virus called Israeli acute paralysis. Climate change has not been ruled out as a possible cause, or at least contributor to CCD. A gradually warming climate allows parasites, competitors and predators to move north because of less severe winters or the absence of a heavy frost where it was once common.
>> Pesticides, plus the monoculture farming pesticides allow and encourage, may be to blame for the colony collapse disorder, according to an LA Times op-ed. I remain curious as to why the main pesticides in question are named Gaucho and Pancho.
>> The link between pesticides and CCD isn’t conclusive yet. Still, Tom Philpott at Grist wonders why the EPA’s sitting on its heels while Germany and France are taking pre-emptive action, telling farmers to cool it on suspected pesticides while they study the issue.
>> The NY Times has a wonky op-ed about using mathematical models to understand bee colony collapse disorder.
>> A documentary-in-progress called Vanishing of the Bees promises to examine CCD “from the viewpoint of the beekeeper as well as from the perspective of hard science, while keeping in mind the mythic spirit of the honeybee.” However, there’s no news as to when the film will actually come out — though you can sign up on the website to be updated via email.
The next buzzy post’ll focus on what can be done –
Photo by law_keven
Update, 10/13/08: Buzzy action ideas here.
I’m glad you highlighted this issue. It’s waaaaay more serious than people realize. While everyone debates Palin’s new hair style and what that means for the campaign, the bees responsible for pollinating many of our crops are dieing off and running away at alarming rates.
My own take on this is that what ever it is causing this, that the lack of genetic diversity in commercial beekeeping is what has allowed it to spread so quickly. Much of our entire industrial agricultural system is foundered on monoculture practices. The most extreme case of monoculture crash is the potato famine in Ireland, and my guess is the only reason we haven’t seen a crash that bad since is because our crops are swimming in protective pesticides now. Just like plants become weaker without genetic diversity, so to with bees which are selective bread for bee keeping.
Comment by Gary Kavanagh — October 9, 2008 @ 5:09 pm