No one expects bees to disappear altogether, but if bees continue to die at the current rates, we may experience increased food prices and decreased food availability. Honey bees are biological indicators, meaning that honey bee health reflects the general health of the environment. Bee losses are possibly a symptom of a much greater environmental problem.
Beekeepers, governmental officials, and scientists from universities, industries, and the USDA have initiated a number of investigations into the possible causes of CCD. It is safe to assume that most potential causes of CCD are being investigated. Many granting agencies have realized the importance of honey bees and have distributed research funds in an effort to find the cause and a cure. Although the causes of colony collapse disorder are not yet known, the following recommendations may provide beekeepers with some options:.
Contact your local Extension agent for more information about CCD, honey bees, or beekeeping in general. What Is Colony Collapse Disorder? Collapsed Colonies Contain no adult bees, with few to no dead bees around the colony Contain capped brood Contain food stores that are not taken by neighboring bees or colony pests Collapsing Colonies Do not have enough bees to maintain colony brood Have a workforce that consists of younger adult bees Contain a queen Are reluctant to eat food provided by the beekeeper What Causes CCD?
While these are most likely not responsible for CCD— because they do not produce the symptoms—they may intensify the problem. Bee management. Hive management varies among beekeepers, but poor management can make any colony problem worse.
Queen source. Queens affect genetic diversity and bee lineage. Across the nation, only a few breeder queens are used to produce queen bees and therefore, all U. Chemical use in bee colonies. The queen and immature bees brood were often found in the hives with plenty of food stores, inadequately attended by a few adult bees. CCD is believed to be complex and a result of multiple factors. One study evaluated 61 factors, and found that no single stressor stood out as the primary cause of CCD.
Pathogens are disease-causing organisms. A group of stakeholders that gathered in found a similar consensus, that a complex group of stressors and pathogens are associated with CCD. Considering this dependency, reduced honeybee and pollinator populations pose a serious risk to domestic agriculture, ecological health, and the U. There have been many theories about the cause of CCD, but the researchers who are leading the effort to find out why are now focused on various factors Source: Environmental Protection Agency - Colony Collapse Disorder :.
See below which provides selected resources for CCD from agencies and organizations with an interest in the prevention, control, or eradication of invasive species. Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service. The U. Universities, states, federal agencies, nongovernmental organizations, nonprofits, and Tribal organizations will carry out selected projects in 49 states, the District of Columbia, Guam, and Puerto Rico.
The NCPN helps our country maintain the infrastructure necessary to ensure that pathogen-free, disease-free and pest-free certified planting materials for fruit trees, grapes, berries, citrus, hops, sweet potatoes, and roses are available to U. In FY , funded projects include, among others:. Pollinator species, such as birds, bats, bees, and other insects, play an important role in producing more than crops grown in the United States.
Bees and other pollinators, including birds, bats, butterflies, moths, flies, wasps, beetles, and small mammals, play a critical role in our food production system. A healthy pollinator population is vital to producing marketable commodities. More than U. Pollinators also support healthy ecosystems needed for clean air, stable soils, and a diverse wildlife.
Scientists with the U. Department of Agriculture are studying ways to keep honeybees stress-free and healthy.
The section below contains highly relevant resources for this subject, organized by source. Or, to display all related content view all resources for Colony Collapse Disorder and Pollinator Health. National Pollinator Week is a time to celebrate pollinators and spread the word about what you can do to protect them. In , the U. Pollinator Week has now grown into an international celebration of the valuable ecosystem services provided by bees, birds, butterflies, bats and beetles.
There are more than 4, native bee species in the United States, with many species yet to be described.
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