new to the flock Posted February 12, 2007 Report Share Posted February 12, 2007 Honeybees dropping like flies from mystery illness Last Updated: Monday, February 12, 2007 | 10:54 AM ET CBC News A mysterious illness killing tens of thousands of honeybee colonies across the United States has industry experts baffled and Canadian beekeepers concerned about the health of their hives. Researchers in the United States are searching for the cause of the ailment, called Colony Collapse Disorder. Beekeepers from at least 22 states have reported unusual colony deaths. Some commercial beekeepers have reported losing more than 50 per cent of their colonies. "We have seen a lot of things happen in 40 years, but this is the epitome of it all," Dave Hackenberg, of Lewisburg-based Hackenberg Apiaries, said by phone from Fort Meade, Fla., where he was working with his bees. While the problem has been discussed in Canada, most apiaries north of the border have closed their hives for the winter. Until the beekeepers check on the hives in late March, they won't know whether the colonies have suffered similar losses, said Doug McRory, provincial apiarist with the Ontario Beekeepers Association. Continue Article "It's been a poor fall but we haven't seen the same collapse here," McRory told CBC News Online. "But because it's winter we don't have a good handle on it. We'll have to wait until after winter to see how many are still alive." A honey bee colony can have roughly 20,000 bees in the winter and up to 60,000 in the summer. The bee population throughout North America has already faced a decline in recent years because of two parasitic bugs — the varroa mite and the honey bee tracheal mite — that have caused viruses in the bee population. Particularly hard hit by Colony Collapse Disorder are migratory operations where beekeepers take their colonies to warmer climates for the winter to help pollinate local agriculture. McRory said moving colonies already puts stress on the bees, with beekeepers traditionally losing up to 20 per cent of their hives in the move. Working towards a solution Scientists at Penn State, the University of Montana and the U.S. Department of Agriculture are among the groups working to solve the mystery of the shrinking colonies. Analysis of the dissected bees turned up weakened immune systems and an alarmingly high number of foreign fungi, bacteria and other organisms, according to Diana Cox-Foster, a Penn State entomology professor investigating the problem. What separates this disorder from other known colony ailments is that no remains are found around the colonies. Instead, scientists assume the bees have flown away from the hive before dying. Another oddity is that no stronger bee colony swoops in and overruns the weakened hive. "They seem to just abscond from the hive," said McRory. "That's what is really confusing." ................................................................................ ............................................................................ I wonder if it is happening in any of the wild hives as well? I personally do not keep bees but I have an Old Boy in the area that hase about 400 set out and about. It will be interesting to see how the bees here have fared come April. NTTF Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Highlander Posted February 14, 2007 Report Share Posted February 14, 2007 'Bee' napping by the sounds of it Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
beatingisbest Posted February 14, 2007 Report Share Posted February 14, 2007 one of my dads friends once tried to keep a hive and bees, he bought all the kit which cost him around £2000 then he got the bees but they all flew away and never came back. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.
Note: Your post will require moderator approval before it will be visible.