Colony Collapse Disorder (CCD): HoneyBees Dying By The Millions!
There’s something wrong with honeybees these days, and it’s got scientists and doomsday enthusiasts all abuzz. You see, every autumn for the past couple of years, about 20% of an afflicted beekeeper’s honeybee hives are dying off in a strange new way. The bees have been leaving the hive and dying elsewhere. You may have already heard of it, Colony Collapse Disorder or CCD is the term that’s been coined to describe this new phenomenon.The problem here isn’t just that 20% of the bee colonies are dying off every year; the problem is that it’s another 20% on top of the annual losses normally experienced by beekeepers for all the other pests, diseases and problems that plague honeybees today. Problems like the negative image that honeybees have gotten from the introduction of Africanized honeybees (AHB) into a couple of the southernmost states in the US. So bad is the image the media has given bees that people as far north as Maine are worried that any honeybee colony they see are “killer bees” so they respond by spraying them with pesticides. The sad thing is the nearest AHB colony is 1500 miles south of them.
Those are just a few of the problems honeybees face, and we can’t forget about the pests that can destroy honeybee colonies like Varroa and Tracheal Mites, Small Hive Beetles (SHB) and Wax Moths. We can’t forget to add in losses from diseases like Nosema, American FoulBrood (AFB), European FoulBrood (EFB), Chalkbrood, Stonebrood, Acute Bee Paralysis Virus (ABPV or APV), Israel Acute Paralysis Virus (IAPV), Kashmir Bee Virus (KBV), Black Queen Cell Virus (BQCV), Chronic Paralysis Virus (CPV), Cloudy Wing Virus (DWV), Sacbroos (SBV) and Chilled Brood (chilled brood is not actually a disease but a problem none the less). There are so many problems that honeybees face, that it’s hard to keep track of them all. Most are not new problems and the bees have been able to out reproduce them.
Here’s the problem with CCD: It’s the brick that broke the camel’s back. With the introduction of CCD, bees are dying off faster than they can reproduce. Bees are dying so fast that we’ve already lost over a third of the total honeybee population in the US, and each year we are losing nearly 8% more; and that spells big trouble for agriculture, which relies on honeybees to produce roughly one third of the food we consume. We are so dependant on honeybees that Albert Einstein estimated that “If honey bees become extinct, human society will follow in four years.” Scientists are predicting that honeybees will be extinct in the US by 2035.
These problems aren’t just plaguing the US however, so don’t go thinking that we can just import the other third of our food supply. In the UK, bee losses are averaging around 33% annually and are predicted to be extinct there in less than 10 years. CCD cases have already been confirmed in Canada, France, Germany, Italy and the United States.
This naturally has scientists scrambling to find out what’s causing CCD so they can ultimately find or recommend a treatment before it’s too late. If we can just keep honeybee losses just below the level they can reproduce at, we’ll have bought ourselves some more time to try to fix some of the other problems with the bees. Currently the cause of CCD is unknown, but scientists are working at a feverish pace, and have made some breakthroughs. In 2008 scientists discovered a strong correlation between IAPV and CCD, though not all CCD affected colonies tested positive for IAPV, a significant percentage did. Furthermore, none of the non-affected hives in afflicted apiaries (place where beekeepers keep their hives) tested positive for IAPV. Unfortunately the only thing this tells us is that CCD may or may not be caused by multiple factors, but if it is, it will likely be that much harder to diagnose and treat.
Many people think that a new class of pesticides called neonicotinoids is causing CCD. It may have been sheer coincidence that these pesticides came on the market in the same year CCD was first reported, or that these pesticides are soaked up by the plant and stay in the plant to poison anything that consumes the plant, it’s nectar, or it’s fruit. It may also be coincidence that these pesticides have been used in every country that has reported cases of CCD. What is clear however is that France banned the use of neonicotinoid class pesticides all the way back in 1992 due to their detrimental effect on honeybees. France isn’t alone; Germany also banned neonicotinoid class pesticides in early 2008, citing as a sole reason their impact on honeybees. To date however, France and Germany are still seeing cases of CCD being reported.
The good news is that even if the source of CCD is not known, we can take steps to reduce the other problems honeybees are facing. Write to your elected representatives and let them know that honeybees are important to you. Ask them to increase funding for research and ask them to take steps to protect and promote beekeeping. Although it’s a big decision, also consider keeping bees yourself.
Join the discussion about honeybees and learn more things you can do to help prolong their existence at: viewtopic.php?f=3&t=32
View videos on Colony Collapse Disorder (CCD):
Four part series from PBS The Silence Of The Bees:
About the Author: SgtMaj is a contributing author at Green Earth Friend. He is also a Green Earth Friend Forum leader and moderator.
bobfl | Jan 20, 2009 | Reply
Kind of scary to think how much we depend on bees. Excellent article thanks sgtmaj.
Gotham Beekeepers | Feb 15, 2009 | Reply
The paper “Historical presence of Israeli Acute Paralysis Virus in the United States” by Evans and Chen of USDA
(American Bee Journal, 12/2007) utterly refuted the
claim that the virus cited in the article has anything to
do with CCD. The paper is here:
http://www.in.gov/dnr/entomolo/files/IAPV.pdf
a plain English translation was published in “Bee Culture
in Dec 2007:
http://bee-quick.com/reprints/claims_collapse.pdf
As of 02/15/09, there is a bill before the NYC City Council to legalize beekeeping in NYC, and one can find links to an “online petition” and for direct contact with one’s city councilperson at GothamCityBees.com
SgtMaj | Feb 16, 2009 | Reply
I need to publish a correction to the statistics in this article. In the article I wrote that: “Scientists are predicting that honeybees will be extinct in the US by 2035.” That should have read “Scientists were predicting that honeybees would be extinct in North America by 2035 before the addition of CCD.”
I’m afraid I do not have the new calculation on honeybee extinction that takes CCD into account, but I will post it as soon as I can find out what it is. I apologize if I lulled anyone into a false sense of longevity.
Gotham Beekeepers – There is definately enough evidence to rule out IAPV as a sole contributor, but it is still possibly one of many contributing factors. One thing is certain, we need more research, and to take immediate actions that we already know will improve conditions for bees and other pollinators. I appaud you for keeping bees, and I appaud NYC for this ordinance, and I certainly hope it passes. I have signed the petitions, and I would urge others to do so as well.
Green Tea Benefits | Mar 22, 2009 | Reply
Love your post!! Finally someone got it right!!! Would you mind if I put a blogroll link back to your post?
admin | Mar 22, 2009 | Reply
Thank you. A blogroll link would be most welcome at this post.
Carol | Mar 25, 2009 | Reply
It’s the cell phone and wi-fi towers and antennas. That’s what’s killing the honeybees – and the bats in the northeast…
http://www.antennasearch.com
vlscpa | May 7, 2009 | Reply
What happened to the rumor that it could be all the cell phones? It makes sense to me, as much sense as any other butterfly wing idea. Cell phones or bees? God help the bees…
Ora | Jun 8, 2009 | Reply
Yes there are many factors affecting the ccd. Cell phones have potential raditive hazard especially most places began to have Cell towers which might kill tiny insects with natural antennas!!!!
Jeremy | Jul 26, 2009 | Reply
New information conflicts with this article’s report that CCD rates do not correlate with French and German policies banning neonicotinoid pesticides. This German article reports a sharp decline in confirmed cases of CCD: http://www.n-tv.de/wissen/Deutschen-Bienen-geht-es-gut-article341072.html
Though the cited article suggests varroa mite and beekeeper decline as the most significant factors in declining bee population in Germany, the change in rate of decline to 10% (especially compared to 30% in the U.S.) suggests that banning neonicotinoids may be important.
dan | Jul 28, 2009 | Reply
this is all that was done in the last half year! my, how science works slow. at this rate, we are all toast.
i noticed a roaming hive had collected on my neibors tree, he was going to spray them, i got him to allow me to have them removed.. i posted a craigslist add saying “beekeeepers alert! free bees” and i was able to have someone out to get the hive within 3 hours. yes, 3 hours.. if everyone does thier part to help beekeepers, then we may have a chance. there are always beekeepers in your local area, who are willing to snatch up a new hive.
Gerald Goldberg, MD | Aug 7, 2009 | Reply
To Bee Or Not To Bee
Colony collapse syndrome, the role of emf, potential
food shortages and the manipulation of markets.
By Gerald Goldberg, MD
10-30-7
Colony Collapse Syndrome (CCS) poses a serious risk to bees as well as to global agriculture. Bees are critical not only in producing honey, but also serve as the main crop pollinators for one third to one half of the agricultural produce in this country. Bees are pivotal in their role as plant pollinators. Many of the crops that depend on bees are many of the berries and fruits, as well as citrus crops. Additionally bees are critical to maintaining the viability of many of the nut crops that are produced, i.e. cashews, pecans, almonds etc. Another role is that bees are necessary also in pollinating many of the crops that are necessary to establish many of the crops that are used to restore the soil, i.e. clover and other species. There has recently been noticed an epidemic of die-off of bees, or perhaps more correctly the total disappearance of bees from their hives. What is noticed in many of the hives that are put out is that after a certain period of time, is that the hives become vacant or empty. There are no bees to be found. Also what has been noticed is that other opportunistic insects will avoid the hives as well.
There are many theories put forth to explain this die off. Pesticides have been noted to be one contributing factor, one possible explanation is that the pesticides which are neurotoxins cause the bees to become forgetful or toxic and fail to lay down memory tracts of their pollinating activities. Thus the bees literally never return to the hives. However little evidence of pesticide activity has been found. Another fact is that the die-offs have been occurring at the same time on four different continents at the same time of year. The agricultural markets in other countries do not use pesticides or use the earlier variants, which do not produce the same effects.
Another possible explanation has been parasites or viruses. There have been parasites noted in earlier isolated breakouts, but not on a global scale. Also what has been repudiated is a common virus, however the same reasons apply. Also many animals which become toxic from emf, the effect of which is accentuated by heavy metals and toxins often show a breakdown in immunity with the appearance of pathogenic organisms, be they parasites, fungi, bacteria or viruses. The organisms found are particular to the species affected but may indicate no more than immune stress.
What other common links can there be to explain a global epidemic that occurs at the same time of year and seems to affect bee populations equally, regardless of the pesticides or pests that they may be exposed to? One common link could very well be the electromagnetic disruption that is occurring at this time and is being caused by the discriminate and indiscriminate use of microwave technologies. The main technology would be the globalized electromagnetic network that has been produced for telecommunications.
It is commonly held that bees orient themselves to light and upon returning to the hive go through a complex dance to relay this information to other bees. However bees also use the electromagnetic fields of the earth as a force for orientation. The bees have a gland that is called the mushroom gland, located in the abdomen, which functions much like a compass. The difference is that is relays constant data back to the brain as to where the bee is, much like the function of a flight recorder. This ability to navigate tells the bee where they are in time and space.
This forms the basis for laying down memory tracts and organizing information, the very basis for learning. The bee’s orientation to the earth’s electromagnetic signature is a reliable, simple and dependable means of orientation and navigation that is not dependent on the variables of light or weather. However one problem remains. Evolution did not count on the signal being jammed by outside sources. Research has shown that the mushroom gland is sensitive to the same frequencies that are emitted by cell phones, mast towers or satellites. In essence artificial microwave frequencies jam this mechanism and the bees become disoriented. They cannot figure out where they are, lay down memory tracts and become lost.
Illness and pesticides would cause a gradual die off and dying bees would be found in the hives. With CCS no bees are found in the hives. Microwave interference is the only plausible means of explaining why this phenomenon is being observed at this time. It also explains why it is occurring simultaneously and on a global basis.
Another feature that is commonly noted in animals is their avoidance of places that have an altered electromagnetic signature. This is commonly seen in nature, i.e. with for instance earthquakes. It has been noted that the hive itself acts as a resonator in tune with the earth’s electromagnetic field. Emf or any outside influence that alters the spin of the electromagnetic signature of the hive would automatically act as a repellant to these insects. They would automatically avoid going back into the hive. Such a phenomena of reverse spin can be easily demonstrated by dowsing. The anecdotal information gathered could be of great value in resolving this issue.
Given the pivotal role that bees play in agriculture what could be some of the consequences of a massive die off. Well there would be a collapse not only of the bee industry but also many of the commercial crops that are dependent on. This would tend to cause a collapse of the large commercial farms in this country, with an over dependence on foreign sources and organic sources. This would tend to drive up the price of the foods affected, at the same time making them generally available to the overall population. Many of the foods affected are important sources of natural antioxidants, fiber and oils.
This might create an increased dependence on artificial sources to compensate for this lack of natural products in the diet. Another consequence would be the increased dependence on the standard grain crops that are used, which would force up their prices. Who would benefit from all this? Certainly not the consumer! The artificial control of market availability of products to create inflationary prices at the cost of human lives is certainly not unique. One does not have to stray that far to observe this style of handwriting on the wall. Human history is replete with examples of a few individuals controlling the destinies of nations, producing dependency on their technologies, and profiting from their control of the marketplace at the expense of other human beings. Indeed this is signatory of our current economy. One might attribute these changes as early harbingers of earth changes, or perhaps the hand of Providence. However the one constant is human greed and mans inhumanity to man.
As with bees, so the same effect is being observed in humans, note the rise in autism, memory disturbances and related disorders. The global alteration of our environment without regard to the limitations of our biology will have profound effects for all life on this planet. This is a timely and urgent matter that involves everyone.
Gerald Goldberg, MD
Author:”Would You put your head in a microwave oven”
glgmd32@hotmail.com
admin | Aug 7, 2009 | Reply
Thank you so much for all that information on bees and how so very important they are to our environment and to all life on this earth!
ken boyd | Sep 12, 2009 | Reply
Personally, I don’t think cell phones or utilities have anything to do with the loss of bees. I think the cause will be found and corrected maybe by the bees themselves. Nature is a wonderful healer.
SgtMaj | Sep 13, 2009 | Reply
To the posters concerned about EMF from cell phones… bees are not made of metal, and therefore are no more susceptible to radio waves than we are. If you haven’t had a strong urge to leave your home and die somewhere by yourself by using your cell phone, you can bet the bees haven’t had that urge because of them either. The difference between a bee antenna and the antenna on your cell phone is that the antenna on your cell phone is made of metal (sure it’s probably covered in plastic, but without a metal wire core, your phone wouldn’t be able to pick up a signal). Furthermore, EMF is nothing new. It is the same type of radiation that TV broadcasts and radio broadcasts use, and even for the first decade after cell phones began being used mainstream there was no such thing as CCD.
Jeremy, banning neonicitinoid pesticides definitely helps bees, but the fact that cases of CCD are still being reported at all in nations that have already banned them indicates that CCD specifically is probably not caused by them. Though it is still a viable theory that residues of nionicitinoids remain prevalent in the soils.
Gerald, great post, and no I wouldn’t put my head in a microwave, because that would be subjecting myself to between 700 and 1000 watts of radio-waves which is enough to excite water molecules into heating up and giving me a headache. I would not think twice about standing a mile away from a running microwave with the door open though, which is similar to the amount of radiation you would recieve from holding a cell phone up to your head. You reicieve far more of the exact same type of radiation from radio stations.
SgtMaj | Sep 13, 2009 | Reply
PS Gerald, there is no such thing as a mushroom gland on a honey bee. There is a mushroom body which is a coordination center in the brain. But it has nothing to do with electromagnetic fields.
Also, nothing can alter the electromagnetic “signature” of non-ferrous materials like wood, wax, honey and pollen.