About Colony Collapse
Colony Collapse Disorder (CCD) is a yet unexplained phenomenon in which honeybee hives are abandoned by adult bees, leaving the queen and immature bees behind to perish. This type of behavior from an insect known for its extremely protective nature is highly unusual.
The issue gained national attention in October 2006 when many beekeepers around the country reported losing between 30 to 90 percent of their hives. In retrospect, the problem may have begun several years prior. Due to the significant contribution of honeybees to our own food supply, agricultural scientists are trying to figure out why.
These researchers have identified several potential causes of CCD: scarcity of nutritional food sources; indiscriminate pesticide use; parasites or pathogens; and environmental stresses. However, none of these potential causes is present in each and every collapsed hive. Instead, evidence suggests that a combination of these causes is contributing to the problem.
*Information gathered from the USDA’s Agricultural Research Service Website.