What is Colony Collapse Disorder?
Wikipedia states "Colony collapse disorder (CCD) is a phenomenon in which worker bees from a beehive or European honey bee colony abruptly disappear. While such disappearances have occurred throughout the history of apiculture, the term colony collapse disorder was first applied to a drastic rise in the number of disappearances of Western honey bee colonies in North America in late 2006.[1] Colony collapse is significant because many agricultural crops worldwide are pollinated by bees."
According to Florida Dept of Agriculture:
"Colony Collapse Disorder, also known as Fall-Dwindle Disease, is of great concern to beekeepers worldwide. Beekeepers are reporting the sudden loss of adult bees in their colonies – few, if any, adult bees are found in or near the dead colonies. Queen and baby (brood) bees remain in the colonies, but the adults are not returning to provide food, so the colonies collapse or die. Over 22 US states reported significant colony losses in the fall of 2006. Similar reports are coming from Europe as well. Researchers are considering viruses, bacteria, fungi, weather, food loss, and other stresses as possible causes."
For more information, below are a few helpful links.
Vanishing Bees
Scientific American
KPBS
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