Where are the Honey Bees? The Tragedy of Colony Collapse Disorder

Whether you love them for their product or fear them for their sting, you are probably familiar with the honey bee. You also likely know that honey bees are important pollinators across North America. As they flit from plant to plant, collecting nectar and pollen from flowers, they are unwittingly maintaining the life cycles of plants and trees, including many that we humans need to survive. In fact, some bee keepers make a living by trucking their bees around the country to massive farms, where the bees do their part to pollinate crops. From blueberries to squash to watermelons, the hard-working honey bees get the job done.

It’s easy to see what a significant part honey bees play in our agricultural system, not to mention their influence over all of the other plants and trees of the natural world. But the honey bees have a problem. Since 2006 they have been disappearing, and nobody knows why. Overnight, entire colonies of honey bees vanish, apparently flying off somewhere and never coming back. Colonies are destroyed in the blink on an eye. Where are the honey bees going and why are they leaving? What can we do to stop this tragedy and save the bees?

Nearly 70% of the honey bee population in North America has been decimated, with individual bee keepers losing an average of 30% of their colonies each year. Bees are flying off and dying in massive numbers, but why? Researchers have labeled the issue Colony Collapse Disorder, but they still don’t have a handle on exactly what is causing the problem. Both the U.S. Department of Agriculture and the Environmental Protection Agency are working hard on the issue, along with university and independent researchers. Investigation is ongoing, and several prevalent theories exist that attempt to pinpoint the issues that are causing the honey bees to die off:

Migratory bee keeping:

Since 1908 some beekeepers have been moving their colonies to different areas of the country from season to season. Bees may overwinter in a warmer climate, and return to northern states in the summer. Some researchers think the stress of these moves in itself may be enough to make bees more susceptible to disease and parasite infestation. Interaction with other bees around the nation may also facilitate the spread of disease.

Genetically modified crops:

Thanks to the work by scientists at certain large corporations, genetically modified crops are becoming more the norm that the exception. Large farms are moving to these genetically modified crops because they produce more food and are more resistant to pests. Corn and soybeans are two crops that have undergone tremendous genetic alteration in recent years. Some researchers believe these new crops may be harmful to the bees.

Chemicals:

Pesticides and fungicides, some sprayed directly on the colony itself, may be more detrimental to the bees than we realize. This theory is emphasized by the fact that organic bees (which are not exposed to these harmful chemicals) have not experienced the massive colony collapse that their commercial brothers have faced.

Malnutrition:

Studies have found a link between nutrition-related stress and Colony Collapse Disorder. Once again, human interaction and genetic manipulation may be to blame. Some bees are fed genetically modified high-fructose corns syrup to supplement their usual diet, particularly during winter months. The practice of migratory bee keeping limits bees to a less-varied diet, meaning they may not get the nutrients they need for a healthy immune system.

Mites, Pathogens and Fungus:

Due to some or all of the factors mentioned above, honey bees may be more susceptible to mites, fungus and pathogens. The parasite Apocephalus Borealis, for example, may lay their eggs in live honey bees, which eventually affects their brain and causes death. Researchers speculate that global warming may be allowing a greater growth of such organisms, putting ever increasing stress on the honey bee.

Commercial breeding:

Commercial beekeepers breed bees to have a specific set of desired trait. Researchers believe this unnatural practice has led to a loss of biodiversity within the species, making for a weaker insect with each passing generation. Commercially bred bee strains lack the genetic variation brought by natural selection.

Radiation:

One theory has surfaced that says honey bees have been disrupted by the increase in mobile technology and cell phone towers. Some research indicates that the presence of electromagnetic fields will make honey bees less likely to successfully navigate their way back to their colony. This is among the more disputed of the theories on Colony Collapse Disorder.

While researchers are hard at work trying to come up with a solution to Colony Collapse Disorder, there are many actions you can take which may help the honey bee to recover from this disaster. The best thing you can do is make your property “bee friendly”. Place flowering plants and trees throughout your yard and garden. Choose a variety of plants that flower at different times of the year. Refrain from mowing down meadows on your property where wildflowers grow; they are a natural habitat for the bees. In fact, if you have a yard where flowering clover and dandelion grows, allow a little more time between mowing if you can stand it. Avoid the use of herbicides and insecticides on your property, as they may be harmful to the bees. Support organizations dedicated to the preservation of honey bees if you can, and avoid products made by companies responsible for genetically modified crops. Support local organic bee keepers and purchase honey and products from them rather than large manufacturers.

Is the plight of the honey bee a metaphor for what we are doing to ourselves as a species? If they are weak and dying, could we be far behind? Obesity, Type-2 Diabetes, heart disease - could these be the Colony Collapse Disorder of the human race? Perhaps the demise of the honey bee will be a wakeup call for us all, but hopefully answers will come before it is too late. All things in nature are connected, and the loss of the honey bee would be a true tragedy.