colony collapse disorder colony collapse disorder phenomenon occurs majority worker bees colony disappear leave queen plenty food nurse bees care remaining immature bees queen occurred history known names disappearing disease spring disease autumn collapse fall disease syndrome renamed colony collapse disorder late conjunction drastic rise number western honey bee colonies north_america european observed similar phenomena belgium france netherlands greece italy portugal spain switzerland germany albeit lesser degree received reports decline greater colony collapse disorder causes significant economic losses agricultural crops staple foods worldwide western honey bees according worth global crops honey bee estimated close billion shortages bees increased cost farmers renting services years leading million lost nearly twice normal rate loss possible causes proposed single proposal gained widespread acceptance scientific community suggested causes include genetic factors loss habitat changing practices combination factors large speculation surrounded family called having caused history limited occurrences resembling documented early set symptoms past decades given different names disappearing disease spring disease autumn collapse fall disease recently similar phenomenon winter occurred attributed vampire scare ultimately confirmed cause appearance syndrome determined recognition syndrome restricted disease standard sense specific agent syndrome renamed documented outbreak colony losses spread rest losses later attributed combination factors including adverse weather intensive leading inadequate forage new infection chronic bee virus time cause agricultural problem similarly mysterious unknown reports behavior coined mystery disease eventually widely known disappearing disease reported afflicted disappearing disease louisiana plenty honey bees present reports attributed lack food dramatic reductions continued number feral honey bees significant somewhat gradual decline number colonies maintained decline includes cumulative losses factors use commercial retiring going business late early rate attrition alleged reached new proportions term colony collapse disorder began describe sudden referred spontaneous collapse syndrome united_kingdom losses remained stable 1990s year variety factors diseases management stress report mid november pennsylvania florida february large commercial migratory states reported heavy losses associated reports losses varied widely ranging bee colonies cases reported losses nearly colonies surviving colonies weakened longer able produce honey losses reported migratory operations california florida oklahoma texas late february larger mid atlantic pacific_northwest regions reported significant losses colony losses reported canadian provinces european countries countries south central_america asia reported data overall honey bee losses indicated estimated loss similar losses reported fewer colony losses occurred winter recent years total losses managed honey bee colonies causes nationwide marked improvement loss reported winter year average loss bee populations dropped winter formed task force address issue years leading million lost nearly twice normal rate loss according total number worldwide continues grow produced banned use crops bees challenging ban court signs symptoms collapsed colonies suspected complete absence adult bees found colonies little buildup dead bees colony collapsed generally characterized conditions occurring simultaneously presence capped brood abandoned colonies bees normally abandon capped brood hatched presence food stores honey bee immediately robbed bees attacked wax small beetle attack noticeably delayed presence queen bee queen present died considered precursor symptoms arise final colony collapse insufficient workforce maintain brood present workforce young adult bees colony members reluctant consume provided feed sugar protein supplement scope distribution north_america reported million honey producing united_states february million million numbers total number managed exclude thousand managed contracts include managed owning fewer representation offset practice counting moved different states produce honey counted state total summed total counts winter losses high occurred years regions pennsylvania normal winter losses typically considered range cases reporting significant losses bees experience true losses causes different states reported case survey responding states met specified criterion dead colonies found bees dead bees suffering operations total loss compared total loss colonies experienced non suffering survey colonies revealed total loss operations lost average number colonies operations reported having colonies die complete lack bees total loss colonies compared loss reported large operations likely suggesting condition factor colonies reported dead survey died presence dead bees possibly suffered reported data overall honey bee losses year indicate estimated loss similar losses reported loss blamed loss half honey bee far losses observed average previous years spring president barack_obama unveiled national strategy improving health bees key plan calls restoring million acres bee habitat variety different plants bees eat administration proposing spending million honey bee research europe according united_kingdom italy france reported bee population united_kingdom dropped study revealed italy mortality rate officials point figures reliable bees started dying way different countries collected statistics bee populations time reports blamed high death rate seasons unusually wet european summers president said hugely variable reports losing losing chairman losses members fifth quarter lot mysterious nearer knowing causing government continued deny existence britain attributes heavy losses rainy summers stop bees foraging food stated believe better defined cause colony losses continuing experience colony losses explained feels recent studies suggest evidence evolving picture complex interactions taking place number factors environmental practices causing honey bee losses described scotland reported losses past years based bee farmer honey lost winter attributed losses infection quickly spread lack bee coupled sustained poor weather prevented honey bees building sufficient stores germany reports europe appeared according german national association honey bee colonies died scientific confirmation early german media reported confirmed cases occurred germany end swiss government reported half bee population survived winter main cause decline thought parasite possible causes mechanisms unknown causes currently considered fungi practices use long distance transportation poor quality queens starvation current scientific consensus single factor causing factors combination lead colony collapse disorder based primarily established preliminary report pointed patterns drew strong conclusions survey early indicated believed starvation leading cause death colonies commercial overwhelmingly believed honey bee small beetles leading cause colony mortality scholarly review june similarly addressed numerous theories possible contributing factor left issue unresolved july released action plan outlined strategy addressing consisting main components survey data collection analysis samples hypothesis driven research action annual report colony collapse disorder steering committee published suggested caused interaction agents combination year published comprehensive descriptive study concluded including adult bee physiology loads levels single factor found consistency suggest agent bees colonies higher loads infected control populations suggesting greater exposure reduced defenses bees second annual report released november group reported associations including parasites identified course research increasingly clear single factor responsible findings indicated absence damaging levels parasite parasitic time collapse find association effects including common particular registered use control studies identified effects bees immune systems leave susceptible bee review examined studies colony collapse disorder bees including declining biodiversity climate change review concluded strong argument interaction parasites diet lies heart current bee health problems furthermore bees species likely encounter multiple lives likely reduce ability bees cope bee bee colony appears succumbed died exposed dose subject food stress turn drought heavy rain induced climate change competition high density honey bee placed nearby unfortunately conducting replicated studies effects multiple interacting bee colonies difficult number combinations rapidly large exposure hard impossible control free flying bees nonetheless strong argument interaction parasites diet lies heart current bee health problems according contributing peer reviewed literature review concluded amounts typically harm bees safer alternatives needed time sources suggest evidence conclusive clarity facts hampered role played issue advocates lobby groups scientists long concerned including possibly effects bees killing outright instead development behavior special interest class called contain active ingredient similar chemicals honey bees affected chemicals seed treatment known work way plant flowers leave taken bees lethal possible chronic problems caused long term exposure corn grown treated study found high levels exhaust study present soil fields near planted corn growing near fields study found exhaust equipment survey reported detected aggregate concentrations bee figure represents half individual reported suggested exposure acute reductions honey bee fitness effects materials combinations direct association declining bee health remains determined evaluating contributions particularly difficult reasons variety use different areas reporting makes difficult test possible simultaneously second commercial operations mobile transporting large geographic distances course season potentially exposing colonies different location bees place honey long term storage effectively meaning delay occur days months contaminated provisions fed colony attempts associate appearance symptoms actual time exposure occurred bee forage far likely enter colony stores carried externally bees carried internally kill bee toxic potentially lethal chemicals natural man affect adult bees primarily affect brood brood die appear happening significantly brood fed honey adult bees consume relatively little accordingly pattern suggests environment responsible likely honey adults dying leaving brood possibly effects contaminated consumed juveniles developed adults date evaluation possible roles relied use surveys submitted direct testing samples affected colonies likely needed especially given possible role applied soil taken plant tissues including applied crop present known effects insects including honey bees consistent symptoms example effects include apparent failure immune system europe interaction phenomenon dying bees discussed time study technique center discussion led partial ban france banned french minister agriculture primarily concern potential effects honey bees subsequently europe mainly labeled regent replacement found toxic bees banned partially france february french deputies led requested creation parliamentary investigation commission bees honey production decreased tons year decade august investigation opened based accused killing bees scientific committees european_union opinion available monitoring studies mainly performed france member states consider relevance studies circumstances country time french succeeded banning clinton administration permitted previously banned including bush administration reduced regulations applications increased team scientists led italy found obtained seeds dressed contain significant levels suggested cause honey bee colony death analysis crops originating seeds dressed suggest large amounts carried honey bee colonies solution documented affect foraging activity honey bees solution fed bees laboratory impaired communication hours laboratory field experiment decreased flight activity discrimination learning performance impaired research scientists found high levels samples wax lower levels chemicals try bee pest thought cause researchers professor confirmed high levels wax found association significantly reduced bee longevity work focused impact build high majority bees tested large said shown cause believe combination variety factors possibly including blamed spread bees study france found low ability locate resulting large numbers lost finding expedition mention symptoms studies shown acute effect honey bees designed eliminate insects similar bees colonial process toxic insect returning spreads brood large survey healthy affected colonies revealed elevated levels wax amounts similar failing healthy confirmed suspected links poor colony health inadequate diet long distance transportation studies continue high levels affected samples lower levels unaffected samples consistent observation healthy honey bee colonies normally fend observations led hypothesis bee declines resulting immune suppression honey bee provided possible explanation sensitivity bees number genes including researchers announced findings exposure rendered honey bees significantly susceptible infection fungus suggesting potential link given increasingly considered contribute interfere bees natural abilities causing preventing finding way researchers italy published findings drilling machines plant corn seeds coated release large amounts air causing significant mortality foraging honey bees according study experimental results environmental release particles containing produce high exposure levels bees lethal effects compatible colony losses phenomena observed commonly reduce colony growth new queen production experimental exposure matched field levels reported able replicate causes navigational failure foraging bees high mortality study provided strong evidence exposure levels high corn feed honey bees forage available causes bees exhibit symptoms consistent weeks researchers suggested observed delayed mortality honey bees caused novel plausible mechanism future studies march studies published showing affect bee long term short term memory suggesting cause action resulting failure return study scientists reported experiments suggested exposure results increased levels particular protein bees key involved immune response making insects susceptible attack harmful growth use roughly tracked rising bee deaths year british study showed definitive relationship increasing agricultural use escalating honey bee colony losses landscape level field study establish link july scientists found combination bees use feed researchers collected east coast discovered contaminated average different scientists found blend different agricultural chemicals sample chemicals identified associated increased risk infection analysis study published february strongly suggests pattern linking effects honey bees stating trace field realistic levels lethal effects reduce expected performance honey bees statistical power analysis showed published field trials reported effects honey bees incapable detecting predicted effects conventionally accepted levels certainty statement peer reviewed independent studies published showing previously routes exposure affecting bees including dust resulted failure return immediate primary research showed environmental persistence agricultural irrigation channels soil reports prompted formal peer review stated january pose high risk bees identified data gaps previously considered review concluded high acute risk honey bees identified exposure dust drift seed treatment uses rape high acute risk identified exposure author studies prompted review suggested industry science pertaining deliberately parliament asked manufacturer explain evidence submitted investigation banned european_union early issued declaration specific pose acute risk honey bees proposed year ban led key studies said decision begs question going chemicals approved chemical manufacturer said ready work member states april european_union voted year restriction ban restrict use use crops attractive bees nations voted motion including british government argued science incomplete ban seen application principle established rio conference environment development advocates lack scientific certainty shall reason cost effective measures prevent environmental degradation initiatives ban united_states march professional jointly filed lawsuit continuing allow use united_states suit specifically asks suspension lawsuit follows dramatic die bees united_states losing responded suit issuing report blaming decline bees claiming role bee extinction act introduced congress proposed act asks suspended review impacts occurred bill reintroduced march act currently debated research theories early researchers commented propagation functions manner disease sentiment existed disorder involve mechanism potentially linked stress leading weakened immune system specifically according research magnitude detected infectious agents adult bees suggests type researchers initially suggested connection suggesting combination bee deformed wing virus transmit bacteria work suppress immunity cause parasites honey bee fungal viral diseases small beetles problems introduced years continental faced colony dying cause healthy colonies nearby typical bee yard healthy colonies enter dying colony rob provisions use dying colony provisions contaminated natural man resulting pattern healthy colonies sick proximity dying colony suggest observer disease involved typical cases provisions dying colonies robbed suggesting particular mechanism spread mimicking disease involved additional evidence infectious disease came following observations colonies died reused healthy colony treated dna destroying radiation report indicated exhibiting tended occur proximity wax increased levels compound wax shown decrease developing queens according article remains world destructive honey bee killer carries including deformed wing virus acute bee virus implicated tends weaken immune system bees researcher canada studied ontario bee colonies survive winter identified cause cases affect queen ability reproduce detrimental survival considered possible cause dying colonies contain israeli acute virus israeli acute virus discovered israel time considered cause named place identified place origin unknown september results large scale statistical study afflicted colonies reported organisms colony compared sequence detect presence colonies found infected numerous virus showed significant association virus found tested colonies tested non colonies research found indicator impaired protein production common bees affected pattern consistent infection like cause degradation responsible protein production cells reduced function bees making vulnerable factors lethal suggested syndrome inability correctly identify known diseases european fungus testing diagnosis samples affected colonies performed makes highly unlikely symptoms fairly known differ classified high rate infection reported samples bees pennsylvania pattern reported samples healthy bees fed filled agriculture chemicals likely infected parasitic fungus associated widespread death honey bees western honey bees infected wiped days indicating caused research team claim ruled potential causes survey affected bee populations found half colonies sampled control populations infected primary agent german research project reduce impact mentioned possible remedy claims successfully cured colonies review results described results promising cautioned blame cases colony collapse areas europe reported fungus direct link established reported california researcher believe conclusive evidence link don want anybody impression thing solved bee scientist similarly stated parasite factor sole cause fungus seen colonies healthy detected honey bees states gene new_york detected counties honey bee samples collected positive analysis spore positive samples revealed viral fungal combination team scientists headed working army published paper october saying new dna virus virus fungus found killed colony group studied study found agent deadly combination virus fatal information study released public page article new_york_times days later article published title scientist didn tell new_york_times study bee deaths professor currently researching impact bees said study generated useful data conflict interest ceo company developing bee diseases months later methods interpret mass data study called question raising doubts correctly identified samples examined researchers collected fed healthy bees average different researchers discovered bees ate times likely infected parasites study shows thought harmless bees actually play significant role research showed practices need reviewed bees sampled authors crops exclusively suggesting bees widely exposed thought dennis quoted saying didn expect harm insects sub lethal effect bee health went state important heavily regulated affected report use colonies lack particular chemicals makes unlikely single chemical involved possible chemicals use tested possible effects honey bees potentially contributing phenomenon high levels found samples wax lower levels chemicals try bee pest thought cause study confirmed high levels wax found association reduced bee longevity found high concentrations majority bees tested large commented shown cause believe combination variety factors possibly including climate change studies europe north_america shown dramatic declines bee colonies lost bee colonies europe lost determining causes bee colony collapse crucial global economy bee assists global agricultural production worth dollars ecological modeling retrospective studies research shown link bee colony collapse climate change shifting weather conditions negatively affect bees link colony collapse climate change closely tied interaction bees climatic food plant reductions climate change affects floral environment flower development production turn directly impacts colonies abilities collect sustain weather conditions shift climate change bees change behaviors rains bees extremely hot weather try gather water colony cool predicted occurrence extreme weather events intense rainy seasons prolonged drought increase climate continues change additionally regions experience increasingly rain washed away easily making difficult bees provide colonies environments experiencing prolonged drought flower environments dry weather patterns lead suitable viable environments bees thrive british journal published projections plant diversity loss spatial sensitivity researchers found major species loss southern forcing bee colonies north decades studying climate change tracking bee colonies find researchers turned ecological modeling brazilian study researchers investigated impact climate change endemic bee species future climatic scenarios known moderate temperatures high relative humidity impacts flight activity foraging behavior bee species result scientists predict scenarios temperatures continue increase humidity continues decrease suitable climates bees brazil mountainous environments optimistic scenario estimated climate change lead percent reduction species populations like large change bees sensitive effects small population size small populations lead reduced genetic decreased fitness result sensitivity fragmented habitat likely support viable population lead additional colony collapse models researchers predict bee populations start declining significantly southern latitudes range expansion north colleagues found climate shifted forced operate outside thermal ranges causing range losses species southern limits study found flora fauna expanded northerly ranges account climate shifts expanded farther north important findings study came statistical models built study range shifts factors use changes land cover researchers found climate change meaningful impact range shifts bee support findings scientists note failure respond thermal changes expand northern range idea susceptible climate change significant studies climate change bees examined species study showed climate western europe warmed bee species experienced range declines narrower climatic pushing fringes environments geographically expect climate change continues bees abandon areas drought migrate fringes seen desert europe significant work tracking bee colony changes regions additional longitudinal surveillance needs conducted regions globe wider array bee species order build body research surrounding impact climate change bees bee migratory began moving different areas country winter migratory widespread america bee rental crucial element agriculture produce near current levels native collectively earn renting bees honey production researchers concerned colonies country crops bees helps spread colonies additionally continuous movement settlement considered strain disruption entire possibly rendering resistant sorts disorder selective commercial breeding lost genetic diversity industrial focus environmental factors condition recognised greatest impact regions industrial agricultural use commercially bred bee colonies natural breeding colony reproduction wild bees complex highly selective process leading diverse genetic makeup large populations bees colonies genetic diversity sexual reproduction significant evolutionary factor resistance parasites infectious diseases artificially bred species especially domestic agricultural species suffer lack genetic variation resulting increased risk diseases loss heightened uniform infectious diseases analogy artificially introduced invasive ants displace native species ecological release manifestation genetic suffer collapse colonies attributed lack genetic diversity displaced indigenous species rebounded populations industrial adopted simple breeding programs uniform desired traits seasonal transportation colonies vast distances causes increased infectious mixing domestic displaced wild populations brood conditions respect nutrition temperature basics combination ecological factors especially host factor loss genetic variation hybrid account apparent environmental causes including concurrent patterns reported producers preliminary survey noted period extraordinary stress affecting colonies question prior die commonly involving poor nutrition drought factor cases common report accordingly appeared significant possibility phenomenon stress manifest healthy colonies similar findings independent survey small scale operations colonies states reported belief weak colonies factor responsible bees dying cases losses believed researchers attributed syndrome practice feeding high corn supplement winter stores relevant apparent inconsistencies results european writer suggested possible connection produced genetically modified corn researchers state colony collapse disorder mainly problem feeding bees diet receive food variety sources plants winter bees given single food source corn high sugar substitute summer single crop diet attributed bee migratory bee keeping honey bees introduced select commercial crops corn single greatly inferior mixed acceptable honey bees introduced exclusively including sweet study published found bees fed variety different plant species showed signs having immune system eating single species bees fed species higher levels bees fed species higher protein content authors linked loss plant diversity found proper diet lead healthy honey bee population authors recommended diet containing potassium calcium iron copper lack plant appear affect healthy colony honey bees fungus parasite colony research proven honey bees introduced wider variety likely survive longer receiving key nutrients like study found acid normally present honey assists bees certain absence artificial nutrients fed bees contribute electromagnetic radiation study non thermal effects radio frequency honey bees reported changes behavior exposure phone base stations operating later study established close range electromagnetic field reduce ability bees return course study half colonies broke including controls base stations embedded april news study appeared media outlets beginning article independent stated subject study included mobile phones related cellular phones implicated media reports time covered study researchers involved stated research include findings cell phones relationship indicated independent article results created horror story review peer reviewed scientific studies investigating effects wildlife humans plants included seven studies involving honey bees reported negative effects exposure radiation specifically demonstrated link review noted according study active mobile phones kept inside worker bees stopped coming days study found drastic decrease egg production queen bees colonies stated electromagnetic radiation exposure provides better explanation theories review authors concluded existing literature shows interfering biological systems ways recommended recognising noted studies representative real life situations natural levels exposure studies need taken scientifically establish link observed disorders bee parasitic fly parasitic fly known prey bees found test tube containing dead honey bee believed affected possibly indicating fly cause mature fly lays eggs bee abdomen feed bee hatching infected bees behave foraging night gathering lights like eventually bee leaves colony die fly larvae emerge neck bee genetically modified crops analysis independent studies assessing effects proteins survival mortality showed proteins crops control negatively impact survival larvae adults additionally larvae consume small percent protein lack geographic crop locations regions occurs management march offered following tentative recommendations noticing symptoms combine collapsing colonies strong colonies collapsed colony found store equipment use measures ensure bees access feed bees sugar use experiencing colony collapse secondary infection treat colonies proposed remedy farmers crops simply switch use native bees bees mason bees native bees helped establish providing suitable nesting locations additional crops bees use feed season commercial crops farm ended british successfully developed strain bees resistant russian honey bees resist susceptible factors associated colony collapse disorder detrimental traits limit relevance commercial united_kingdom national bee database set march monitor colony collapse result reduction bee population taken place previous years particular register funded administered monitor health trends help establish honey industry threat supposed colony collapse disorder britain invited participate october stated believe cause colony losses continuing experience colony losses explained approach taken raise profile integrated bee health management words identifying trying eliminate factors reduce health status colony incorporates increasing skill level training education raising profile habitat destruction effect forage availability course research distribution diseases conditions applied research development providing solutions economic ecological impact honey bees native americas necessity regions limited strictly agricultural ornamental uses native plants require honey bee concentrated situations need great bloom time concentrated capacity native bees current technology phenomenon particularly important crops growing california honey bees predominant crop value billion total crop value wholly dependent honey bee estimated exceed billion high demand cost renting honey bees increased significantly california industry approximately million honey bee colonies spring crop worldwide yield roughly billion services responsible approximately crop species including species plants insects including kinds bees bees typically commercial scale farmers kinds native crops bring honey bees help specifically need honey bees absent region native reclaim niche typically better adapted serve plants assuming plants normally occur specific area individual basis species actually efficient crop types honey bees native mass utilized easily effectively honey bees instances visit plants moved crop crop needed bees visit plants large numbers lack efficiency commercial viability crops strongly tied industry china hand apple labor intensive time consuming costly regions indigenous important vital sustain natural habitats addition value human societies sustain food resources populations decline decline plant populations agriculture plants completely dependent produce fruit plants dependent enhance capacity produce better fruits help plants reduce time flowering fruit set reduces risk harmful factors diseases chemicals weather etc specialist plants require risk decline plants use animals wind self suffer sources said perform level nearly plant species directly human food worldwide catastrophic loss significant impact estimated seven major agricultural crops north american economy lost region world farms intensive systems high density crops impacted compared non intensive systems small local gardens depend wild bees dependence types farms high demand services costs billion annually cost offset generate billion globally media silence bees october nature television series covers recent investigative discoveries documentary bees pointed likely culprit experts interviewed firm data exists feature length documentary queen sun bees telling features interviews scientists farmers philosophers documentary argues principally responsible honey documentary examines relationship humans bees explores possible causes
Colony collapse disorder