I’m a beekeeper so i am going to jump in. Here is the speculation I have on this subject.
1. no it is probably not terrorists :) although a disease that kills honey bees could be introduced the disease would kill a large number of bees but not all.
2. Bees fertilizing the GE corn is probably not the culprit as Corn doesn’t need honey bees to fertilize it and my bees stay away from corn, however bees fed on corn syrup made from that corn may be the culprit (causing bees to become immunodeficient). (I feed my bees sugar not corn syrup I haven’t had mysterious losses).
3. Most beekeepers have some loss of bees each year due to a number of pests that plague the industry. mites, etc
4. We will not produce as much food without European honey bees and yes if they all died out we would be in a world of hurt for alot of crops.
5. the bees may be dying of certain pesticides that were found to destroy honey bees in Europe but that homeowners are now routinely using in the US to prevent termite damage.
So several things could be to blame. It could also be a natural cycle as a die off (not of this magnitude) occurred 50-60 years ago and 50-60 years before that.
Would wild bees, bumble bees, etc. polinate the crops?
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04/16/07 - Colony Collapse Disorder (CCD) in Honey Bees
Received from:
Dr. Jamie Ellis
Honey Bee Research and Extension Laboratory
Department of Entomology and Nematology
University of Florida
Bldg 970 Natural Area Drive
PO Box 110620
Gainesville, FL 32601
Email: jdellis@ufl.edu
Phone: 352 392 1901 ext. 130
Introduction
The U.S. beekeeping industry has faced a number of obstacles to healthy bee management over the years. These obstacles range from arthropod pests to pathogenic diseases. Now a new problem threatens the beekeeping industry and it may eclipse altogether the bee maladies of old. Termed “colony collapse disorder” (or CCD), the disorder has gained considerable national and international attention.
Beekeepers around the United States have reported higher-than-usual colony losses since the fall of 2006. Some beekeepers in states reporting CCD have lost 50 to 90% of their colonies, often within a matter of weeks. This translates into thousands of dead colonies and millions of dead bees. In a country where honey bees contribute billions of dollars in added revenue to the agriculture industry, these bee losses cannot be taken lightly.
SNIP
What causes CCD?
The cause of CCD is under investigation. At this point, almost every conceivable and realistic cause remains a possibility. The leading candidates and a brief explanation of their potential role are listed below. This list is not a comprehensive list and the candidates occur in no particular order. It is important to note that this list may change as new information on CCD becomes available. Such changes could result in the addition or exclusion of any of the following potential causes. The author makes no attempt to promote or undermine any one of the following theories.
Traditional bee pests and diseases (including American foulbrood, European foulbrood, chalkbrood, nosema, small hive beetles, and tracheal mites): Although considered potential causes, “traditional” bee maladies (those nearly-cosmopolitan throughout the US and globally) likely are not responsible for causing CCD. This is because they do not have a history of promoting CCD-like symptoms. That said, traditional bee pests and diseases may exacerbate the disorder, so scientists have not abandoned experiments investigating them.
Style of feeding bees and type of bee food: The style of feeding bees and types of bee food used to feed bees vary considerably among beekeepers reporting CCD losses. As such, no correlation has been found between what colonies were fed and their likelihood of survival. Despite this, many beekeepers have abandoned the practice of feeding high fructose corn syrup to bees due to indications that it can form byproducts that are harmful to bees
How the bees were managed: Management style is a broad category but it can include the type of income pursued with bees (honey production, pollination services, etc.) or what routine colony management beekeepers perform (splitting hives, swarm control, chemical use, etc.). Both of these vary considerably among beekeepers so this possible cause of CCD is given less attention. That said, poor management can make any colony malady worse.
Queen source: Scientists are investigating the lack of genetic diversity and lineage of bees, both related to queen quality, as possible causes of CCD. Regarding the former, relatively few (in the hundreds) breeder queens are used in the U.S. to produce the millions of queen bees (and therefore all bees) used throughout the U.S. Geneticists refer to this as a genetic bottle neck. This lack of genetic biodiversity can make bees increasingly susceptible to any pest/disease that invades the system.
Chemical use in bee colonies: Like farmers in other agricultural sectors, beekeepers often attempt to chemically-control the various maladies affecting their honey bees in an effort to keep their bees healthy and productive. Investigators recently have found a number of sub-lethal effects of these chemicals on honey bees (workers, queens, and drones) even when the chemicals were used according to label and in accordance with best management practices suggested by specialists. These sub-lethal effects have led some to consider the role of in-hive chemical use in the CCD paradigm.
Chemical toxins in the environment: Another chemically-oriented theory is that toxins in the environment are responsible for CCD. Because pesticides are used widely in cropping systems in an effort to kill herbivorous insects, one is left to consider the potential for non-target chemical effects on foraging bees. In addition to being exposed to toxins while foraging, honey bees also may encounter toxins by drinking water contaminated with chemical runoff, encountering various chemicals (household, commercial, etc.) through contact outside of the hive, or via direct inhalation.
Genetically modified crops: Some people have proposed that genetically modified crops may be responsible for the widespread bee deaths. Interestingly, many seeds from which genetically modified crops are grown are dipped first in systemic insecticides that later may appear in the plants’ nectar and pollen. This makes genetically modified plants suspect because of their chemical treatment history, not just because they are genetically modified. Scientists have begun initial investigations into both theories but no conclusive data have been collected.
Varroa mites and associated pathogens: Even with the concerns surrounding CCD, varroa mites remain the world’s most destructive honey bee killer. As such, varroa and the viruses they transmit have been considered as possible causes of CCD. Further, varroa often are controlled chemically by beekeepers. So varroa (perhaps not directly) has been considered a potential cause of CCD because the mite itself is damaging, it transmits viruses to bees, and it can elicit chemical responses from beekeepers. Despite this, there have been instances of colonies showing symptoms of CCD when their varroa populations were under control.
Nutritional fitness: Scientists have proposed nutritional fitness of adult bees as a potential cause of CCD. This topic is being investigated although little information exists currently to support/refute the role of nutrition. Malnutrition is a stress to bees, possibly weakening the bees’ immune system. A weak immune system can affect a bee’s ability to fight pests and diseases.
Undiscovered/new pests and diseases: Finally, undiscovered or unidentified pests/pathogens are considered possible causes of CCD. Some believe that a new pest/disease may have been introduced into the U.S. and is causing CCD. To give one example, Nosema apis (a microsporidian that lives in the digestive tract of honey bees) has been present in the U.S. for many years. In 2006, scientists discovered and identified a new nosema species, Nosema ceranae, present in some colonies displaying symptoms of CCD (it also has been found in bee samples dating back to 1995). When this disease is present in bees in elevated levels, the bees leave their colonies, never to return. Although the role of N. ceranae in the CCD complex is not understood, it and other new pathogens may play an important role in elevated bee deaths.
Many scientists believe that CCD is caused by a combination of the factors above. To illustrate this point, some dead bees showing symptoms of CCD have had elevated levels of normally-benign pathogens in their bodies, possibly indicating a compromised immune system. In theory, any stress or combination of stresses (chemicals, genetic bottlenecks, varroa, etc.) can suppress a bee’s immune system. Considering synergistic effects as a potential cause of CCD makes the disorder increasingly harder to study.
How will CCD affect the general public?
In general, most people respect honey bees, recognizing their importance, while being cautious when near them. This is not surprising because honey bees can inflict a painful sting. Stings aside, most people also recognize honey bees for the sweet honey that they produce. To be sure, the production and sale of honey supports thousands of beekeeper families and provides the consumer with an alternative to sugar (incidentally, there is no evidence that honey from CCD colonies is unsafe for human consumption). However, honey is of only minor importance compared to the benefits afforded humans by honey bee pollination.
http://pestalert.ifas.ufl.edu/Colony_Collapse_Disorder.htm