More Readings

Partner Sites

The Innumerable Probable Causes Of Honey Bee Colony Collapse Disorder

Beekeepers have always suffered losses of their honey bees but in the old times those losses were limited and the beekeeper was always able to discover the cause, usually a bacteria, mite or some other pathogen and take pertinent action. Not so with colony collapse disorder, (sometimes called colony collapse syndrome or colony collapse disease). With colony collapse disorder more bees are dying faster with no perceptible reason and because only the queen and a few workers are left alive the colony dies.

The disappearing honeybees is still a mystery. As yet there has been no firm revelation to point to any one cause for their demise. This has led to the presumption that there is more than one cause to colony collapse disorder (CCD). Feasible causes are:

Genetically modified crops

An experiment carried out by a beekeeper, John McDonald, seems to suggest that genetically modified crops could be the cause of colony collapse syndrome. He placed eight bee colonies in a place where the bees would have no proximity with genetically modified crops and an equal number of honey bee hives on farms that grew genetically modified crops. At the end of the season in October the results of the honey collecting of both sets of honey bees was examined. The results between the two sets of bee colonies were very distinctive.

The eight non-GMO honey bee colonies produced 150 pounds of honey, per bee hive, in the over-wintering brood supers. Plus, between them, the 8 colonies produced 200 pounds of extra honey. The farm honey bees, on the other hand, had produced no extra honey and had not even packed the over-wintering brood supers. These farm bees will require feeding in order to carry through the winter.

Pesticides

The pesticide believed to be the main culprit in causing colony collapse disorder is nicotine-based Clothianidin, an insecticide in the neonicotinoid family. In Germany investigators found that 99 percent of dead bees had high levels of Clothianidin in their bodies. As a result the 7 pesticides in the neonicotinoid family have been provisionally outlawed.

In the US imidacloprid seems to be the pesticide causing the most colony collapse disease. For example in North Dakota one third of colonies died after imidacloprid was used on oil seed rape.

Cell phones

Is the electromagnetic radiation given off by cell phones interfering with the bee's navigating system thus preventing the honey bees from locating their way back to the hive. Some exploration carried out by Dr Jochen Kuhn shows that honey bees do not like going back to their hives when a cell phone is positioned near the hive. If bees are trying to dodge mobile phone radiation then this could explain why they are getting lost and incapable of finding their way home.

Foodstuffs

Bees normally use natural material like pollen, sap, nectar, or other botanical materials, for conversion into honey. When beekeepers take away this honey, which the honey bees would normally eat over winter, and replace it with High Fructose Corn Syrup a natural raw food is being replaced with a highly processed dead foodstuff. High Fructose Corn Syrup is lacking in the many minerals and vitamins found in honey so the honeybees are forced to eat inferior foodstuff which results in their impoverished health and weakened immune systems.

So what is the cause of bee colony collapse disorder. Probably a combination of all of the above though GMOs, and the neonicotinoid pesticides, seem to be the main factors which has caused the dramatic increase in bees disappearing.

How 800 Phone Numbers Facilitates Businesses To Make More Income
One of the best ways to establish a lasting presence for your business, organization or company all over the country is by getting a 800 phone number to bring in and maintain new callers and clients.

1-800 Vanity Numbers Bestow An Unique Choice For Businesses
Although the internet has encroached so much to how business is conducted today, the telephone remains the most preferred communication channel as far as business is concerned.

Return Address Stamps Have Lovely And Exciting Ways To Office Use - Many Color Selection And Classy Styles Available
Return address stamps are very useful things! They can be used in all correspondence, and can also be used to put your own mark of individuality on a letter. People use them in a variety of different contexts.

Overhead Projectors, Still A Very Useful Office Tool
Despite the ubiquitous presence of high-tech equipment like laptops and LCD projectors that are normally found in conferences and office meeting rooms these days, the former (old) technology used for presentations and lectures, overhead slide projectors remain as a favorite device for many.

Fiscal Chance-Takers - How To Discover & Speak With Financial Chance Takers
If you're involved in any type of multi-level, network merchandising program, home based business, or other type of direct sales program, then you're probably interested in building your business using business opportunity seekers.

Employee Attendance Tracking Software - The Easiest Way Of Efficiently Administering The Workers In Any Company
Employee attendance tracking software is a convenient way to keep track of all the employees in your business. It will help you track employee absenteeism and dishonesty and even provide an easy way to manage and delegate things like annual leave, sick leave and flextime.

Phone Systems For Small Business - A Crucial Element Of Virtually Any Enterprise To Interact With Potential Customers
There are many different kinds of phone systems for small business available today. However a system that includes VOIP will prove more beneficial to a company because of the features included.

Projector Screen Paint - Figure Out How Upcoming Projections Are Sure To Be Excellent
If you want to project images or film for group viewing, then you need a projector screen to project onto, if you want to do justice to the images.

Deciding On The Best Public Relations Company Could Be A Giant Ingredient To Triumph
Finding the right public relations firm is incredibly important, more so than small and medium-sized companies seem to think. Many business owners eschew the services of public relations firms. They feel like they don't need them at all.