| Bee
numbers on parts of the east coast and in Texas have fallen by more
than 70 percent, while California has seen colonies drop by 30 to 60
percent.
According to estimates
from the US Department of Agriculture, bees are vanishing across a
total of 27 states and in India, Poland, Switzerland, Germany, Spain,
Portugal, Italy, Greece, and Great Britain., and for the time being no one really knows
why.
The situation is so
bad, that beekeepers are now calling for some kind of government
intervention, warning the flight of the bees could be catastrophic for
crop growers. Domestic bees are essential for pollinating some 90
varieties of vegetables and fruits, such as apples, avocados, and
blueberries and cherries. |
| Colony Collapse Disorder
(CCD) is the name that has been given to the latest, and what seems to
be the most serious, die-off of honey bee colonies across the country.
It is characterized by, sudden colony death with a lack of adult bees
in/in front of the dead-outs. Honey and bee bread are usually present
and there is often evidence of recent brood rearing. In some cases,
the queen and a small number of survivor bees may be present in the
brood nest. It is also characterized by delayed robbing and slower
than normal invasion by common pests such as wax moth and small hive
beetles. |
What is CCD? Colony Collapse Disorder (CCD) is the name that has been given to the
latest, and what seems to be the most serious, die-off of honey bee colonies across the
country. It is characterized by, sudden colony death with a lack of adult bees in/in front of
the dead-outs. Honey and bee bread are usually present and there is often evidence of
recent brood rearing. In some cases, the queen and a small number of survivor bees may
be present in the brood nest. It is also characterized by delayed robbing and slower than
normal invasion by common pests such as wax moth and small hive beetles.
What causes CCD? Although there is much attention being given to this situation, it is
not yet clear what is causing the die-off. From two intensive surveys of many of the
beekeepers involved, some potential causes have been eliminated (see below) and others
have been identified as important to investigate (see below). However, at this point it
does seem likely that a number of factors may be involved.
Who is being impacted? As of February 2007, many of the beekeepers reporting heavy
losses associated with CCD are large commercial migratory beekeepers, some of who
have lost 50-90% of their colonies. Surviving colonies are often so weak that they are not
viable pollinating or honey producing units. Losses have been reported in migratory
operations wintering in CA, FL, OKand TX. However, late in February some larger nonmigratory
beekeepers, particularly from the mid-Atlantic region and the Pacific Northeast
have reported significant losses of >50%.
When was it first discovered and how long has it been going on? The first “report” of
CCD was made in mid-November 2006 by a Pennsylvania beekeeper overwintering in
Florida. Soon after the initial report, other migratory beekeepers reported heavy losses of
colonies under similar circumstances. In subsequent conversations with beekeepers from
across the country, it appears that a number of large beekeepers have been discovering
higher than normal losses compared to the past few years (although heavy overwintering
losses were reported in 2003-2004 for many northern beekeepers). These losses may or
may not be related to CCD, but it is likely that there may be some relationship.
Is honey from CCD colonies safe to eat? To date there is no evidence that CCD affects
honey. The impact of CCD appears to be limited to adult bees.
The beekeeping industry has experienced heavy losses of colonies in the past. Is this
something new? Symptoms similar to CCD have been described in the past, and heavy
losses have been documented. The condition has received many different names over the
years including autumn collapse, May disease, spring dwindle, disappearing disease, and
fall dwindle disease. Whether or not the current die-off is being caused by the same
factors that caused heavy losses in the past or if new factors are involved is not yet clear.
Why is it called Colony Collapse Disorder rather than disappearing or spring/fall
dwindling/disease? References to the season are inappropriate as there are increasing
reports that the condition manifests itself throughout the year. “Dwindle” implies a
gradual decline of colony population whereas we are seeing a rapid collapse. While the
actual rate of adult bee loss in populations have not been recorded, it is clear that
otherwise strong colonies can quickly lose their entire workforce in a matter of a few
weeks or even a few days. “Disappearing” has been used to refer to a host of other
conditions that do not necessarily share the same symptoms as those presently being
described. The term “disease” is commonly associated with a pathogenic agent. While
the definition of disease does have a broader meaning (i.e. coronary disease), until (or if)
such an agent is found the use of the word “disease” would be misleading. Should a
biological or other agent(s) be isolated as the cause, the name of this condition will likely
be reconsidered.
How do I know if a colony has CCD? Colonies impacted by CCD have the following
characteristics:
• The complete absence of adult bees in the hive, (in some cases the queen and a small
number of survivor bees are present in the brood nest) with no or little build-up of dead
bees in the hive or at the hive entrances.
• The presence of capped brood.
• The presence of food stores, both honey and bee bread, which is not immediately
robbed by other bees. Invasion of common hive pests such as wax moth and small hive
beetle is noticeably delayed in dead-out equipment left in the field.
What are the early signs of CCD? In cases where the colony appears to be actively
collapsing:
• There is 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, appears healthy and is usually still laying eggs.
• The cluster is reluctant to consume feed provided by the beekeeper, such as sugar syrup
and protein supplement.
• Foraging populations are greatly reduced/non-existent.
What should a beekeeper do if he or she has CCD? See the CCD information on
recommendation (separate document).
What can I do to reduce the likelihood of getting CCD?
• Keep colonies strong by practicing best management practices.
• Don’t stack dead or weak colonies on strong colonies.
• Feed colonies fumigillin in the spring.
Is it safe to reuse the equipment from colonies that have been lost during the
winter? If it can be determined that bees starved or died due to other reasons associated
with typical winter loss, it does appear safe to reuse equipment, including honey stores
and pollen, but caution is advised and equipment probably needs to be aired thoroughly.
Also you should seriously consider replacing old comb with new foundation on a regular
basis. However if your colonies died from what appears to be CCD (see description
above), reusing equipment is not advised since we do not yet know the cause of this
condition. Members of the CCD working group have initiated experiments that will look
at various comb sterilization techniques for suggestions in the future.
Who is working on this problem? A group of researchers, apiculture extension
specialists and government officials from a number of different institutions across the
country have come together to work on this problem and share information with
beekeeper and the public. This group is called the CCD Working Group. For a complete
list of the institutions and individuals involved please visit the CCD page on the Website:
MAAREC.org.
What has been eliminated as a potential cause of CCD? These results are based on indepth
interviews with beekeepers impacted by CCD and surveys of beekeepers
responding to our request for information. While these items have been removed from
our list of “causes” they may increase the risk of developing CCD. For instance, wearing
wet clothes will not give you a cold, but it does increase your chances of catching a cold.
Feeding: The practice of feeding was common to most of the beekeepers interviewed and
surveyed who experienced CCD. Some feed HFCS, others sucrose however, some did
not feed. Most beekeepers interviewed did not feed protein but some used pre-made
protein supplement.
Chemical use: While most used antibiotics, the type, frequency of application, and
method varied. Most beekeepers had applied a miticide treatment during 2006. The
products used and method of application varied.
Use of bees: Some beekeepers reported that their bees were used primarily for the
production of honey, while others received most of their income from pollination
contracts. Some produced honey and used their colonies for pollination.
Queen Source: All beekeepers purchased at least some queens throughout the year.
Some beekeeper reared the majority of their own cells, but most bought either mated
queens or queen cells. Queens were bought from at least 5 different states (Florida,
California, Texas, Georgia, Hawaii) and 2 foreign countries (Canada and Australia).
What potential causes of CCD is the Working Group investigating? The current
research priorities under investigation by various members of the CCD working group, as
well as other cooperators include, but is not limited to:
• Chemical residue/contamination in the wax, food stores and bees
• Known and unknown pathogens in the bees and brood
• Parasite load in the bees and brood
• Nutritional fitness of the adult bees
• Level of stress in adult bees as indicated by stress induced proteins
• Lack of genetic diversity and lineage of bees
For a more complete description of the research priorities, please visit CCD page found
on the MAAREC.org website.
What are examples of topics that the CCD working group is not currently
investigating? GMO crops: Some GMO crops, specifically Bt Corn have been
suggested as a potential cause of CCD. While this possibility has not been ruled out,
CCD symptoms do not fit what would be expected in Bt affected organisms. For this
reason GMO crops are not a “top” priority at the moment.
Radiation transmitted by cell towers: The distribution of both affected and non-affected
CCD apiaries does not make this a likely cause. Also cell phone service is not available
in some areas where affected commercial apiaries are located in the west. For this reason,
it is currently not a top priority.
What can beekeepers/beekeeper groups do to help with discovering the cause of
CCD?
• Please fill out an online survey at: www.beesurvey.com
• Consider giving to one of the foundations collecting monies to help fund research in
these activities:
More Information: http://maarec.cas.psu.edu/ColonyCollapseDisorder.html
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