Nature

In the last four years, over 30 percent of commercial bees have died as a result of colony collapse disorder. There have been various theories that have been developed by scientists to explain the destructive phenomena. The phenomenon has also attracted surprising suggestions on the possible solutions to the problems. The effects of the destruction of bee colonies have been far reaching because of their contribution in agriculture as they pollinate almost a third of the agricultural plants in the world. However, reliable research point out complex diseases combined with other factors such as farming methods as the cause of the colony collapse disorder. 

Colony Collapse Disorder
    A colony collapse disorder is a phenomenon in which the worker bees disappear mysteriously from the colony or the beehive. The phenomenon which is also called honey bee depopulation syndrome has occurred throughout since man started apiculture. It has been worst experienced since 2006 especially in the United States and Canada. The collapse has had significant effects on the economy due to the dependence of agriculture on bees pollination. The syndrome has also been witnessed in various parts of Europe though the situation has been less severe. The major colony collapse disorder is still under investigation by scientists although it has been linked to biotic factors such as pathogenic diseases and bee parasites such as Varroa mites. Other factors which may have possibly caused the syndrome includes changes in the environment which results into stress, lack of food, migratory beekeeping and extensive use of pesticides in agriculture. Some scientists have also suggested that radiations from telecommunication facilities and GMO crops may have contributed to the syndrome. However, it has not been fully established what could be the main cause of the syndrome with scientists maintaining that it is as a result of a combination of factors (Ratnieks  Carreck, p 152).        

    A bee colony which has collapsed from this syndrome can be identified from some simultaneous general symptoms. The most pronounced symptom is the general reduction in the population of adult bees in the colony where there could be a presence of few dead bees. The presence of abandoned capped brood is an indication of CCD. Under normal conditions, the bees do not abandon capped brood. Stored food, either honey or pollen that has been abandoned also indicates that the bees were destroyed by the syndrome. The symptoms occur simultaneously in many cases of colony collapse disorder. The symptoms results from inadequate workforce in the colony due to disappearance of the work bees.

    The phenomenon has since been reported in over 20 states in the United States and several parts of Canada. It has been suggested that the collapse is caused by the Israel acute paralysis virus which was identified in 2004. The virus causes shivering wings in bees which later lead to paralysis and eventually death of the bee outside the colony. However, most beekeepers believe that the main cause of the colony collapse is malnutrition and drought. Malnutrition has been the common factor causing the syndrome in almost all surveys that have been carried out to access the syndrome. The hypothesis of the relationship between the disorder and nutritional stress hold no water because of the unlikelihood of well nourished colonies being affected by the syndrome. Recent research indicates that bees are adversely affected by feeding on syrup rich in fructose which is provided by farmers during winter. The syrup has more so been associated with genetically modified corn. Studies suggest that the syrup leads to the production of a toxic by products which eventually destroy the colony. The mono diet available to the bees during winter has shown to have negative effects on the bees health. Research has confirmed that bees that feed on pollen from a variety of plant species are healthier and less likely to be affected by diseases. However, this has proved not to be the main cause since colony collapse disorder does not occur exclusively during winter. But scientists supporting this hypothesis argue that the syndrome is due to the loss of plant biodiversity (Higes  Meana, p 93).      

    Another common hypothesis on the cause of colony collapse disorder has been the use of insecticides in agricultural activities. The hypothesis was first developed in France in the mid 1990s where a pesticide Imidacloprid which was used in sunflowers caused colony collapse disorder. The pesticide caused massive migration of bees from France while others died as a result of colony collapse disorder. However, in the recent outbreak of the syndrome, it is not easy to access the impacts of specific pesticide because of the numerous brands used in the affected areas. Moreover, commercial beekeepers usually transport their beehive to different places exposing the bees to a larger variety of pesticides used in different areas (Thompson, p 318). Bees collect and store pollen for days or months before they consume and therefore the effect of contamination can be delayed for days or months which make research on this factor complex. The development in biotechnology which has introduced genetically engineered plants has also been associated with this syndrome. Scientists argue that the natural pesticide Bt toxin produced by these plants have an adverse effect on bees colonies. However, there are no experimental evidences to prove the hypothesis. The wide spread migratory beekeeping in the United States has had negative effects on the bees. American beekeepers earn more from renting their bees for pollination than honey production. This trend has been associated with spread of diseases and bee parasites (mites) and had been proposed as one of the causes of colony collapse. The movement of beehives from one place to another has also been proposed to cause strain and disrupts the hive rendering the bees more susceptible to systematic disorders (Medrzycki et al, pg 60).

    Other factors associated with colony collapse disorder include the change in climate which make the bees more susceptible although not directly. Electromagnetic radiations from telecommunication systems have been associated with airborne creatures complications. The phenomenon has had far reaching economic impacts especially to almond farmers in California which wholly depend on bees pollination. Scientists have however proposed different mechanisms that can be used to save colonies from the syndrome. This includes separating collapsing colonies from health colonies, replacing the sugar syrup in winter with Fumagillin and treating the colonies with appropriate medication incase of infection.

     Over the past few years, beekeepers and scientists have been baffled by colony collapse disorder which has claimed over 30 percent of colonies since 2006. However, scientists have carried out numerous researches on the causes of the syndrome but have not singled out one cause. The syndrome has been associated with human activity and biotic factors.