March 8, 2007
A mysterious disease attacking honeybees around the nation is causing worry for local beekeepers and farmers.
The disease, called Colony Collapse Disorder, has caused the death of millions of bees around the nation and is believed to be one of the most widespread threats the beekeeping industry has ever faced. In Colorado, it has attacked several hives owned by commercial bee keepers.
“It’s at epidemic proportions,” said Jerry Cochran, manager of Colorado’s apiary program.
As of yet, scientists have been unable to pinpoint the exact cause of the disorder. The main symptom is simply a missing colony. The bees are all gone, presumably dead, but are not in the vicinity of the hive. Also, pests that typically attack distressed colonies like wax moths or certain mites, stay away from these collapses hives for longer than usual.
“They are reluctant to go inside,” Cochran said.
He said the disorder seems to be mostly affecting colonies that have undergone stress, such as transporting them around the U.S. for pollination jobs.
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Still, some beekeepers are reporting that it happens even if the hives aren’t transported.
Clark Sloan, owner of Clark’s Honey Farm in Hudson, has had a few instances when he opens a hive and finds it empty.
“For us, it’s not as bad as other reports we’ve heard,” he said. “But we’ll go out to a colony sometimes and it’s completely empty.”
This is the latest crisis is another worry in an industry already plagued with threats such as mites, moths and pesticides.
“It’s quite scary,” he said. “You don’t know if you can keep them alive for the next year. Each year it becomes more difficult.”
The future of the bees isn’t just important for the beekeepers.
Jacquie Monroe, who owns Monroe Organic Farms near La Salle says that the farm depends on bees. She lets Sloan set up hives at the farm and in turn, the bees help the crop.
“We definitely see a difference when there are bees or no bees on the farm,” she said. “There is a lot more yield when there are bees on the farm.”
She said that every farm needs bees, even if they don’t keep hives close by like Monroe farm.
“Without bees you don’t have a crop,” she said.
Nina Rattle, who keeps bees as a hobby, had been worried about her bees this winter.
On Wednesday, Rattle checked her bees for the first time since winter set in. She was worried about her three hives as she covered herself in a suit to go and check on them.
“I hope it hasn’t affected my hives, but I don’t think there’s anything I can do,” she said.
Dead bees were piled around the hives — but it was a normal amount for the winter she said. As soon as she lifted the top of the hive, hundreds of bees flew up and surrounded her, their buzzing growing in intensity as she checked section of the hives for eggs.
“It all looks healthy,” she said as she closed up. “Thank goodness.”
Jeff Johnston has also been able to dodge the disorder so far, but he lives in fear of it. He owns Colorado Honey Company in Fort Collins and has several hives. Though he sells honey, the real money in the bee business comes when he takes his hives to California to help pollinate the almond crop. These type of colonies that move around a lot are the most likely to be affected by the disorder.
“It might just be a step away for us,” he said.
Still, if his bees aren’t affected by the disorder, it might end up being good for business.
“If there are less hives in California, in theory it kind of makes our a little more valuable,” he said. “But you don’t want anyone going out of business for this.”
Colony Collapse Disorder
Q What is Colony Collapse Disorder?
A Colony Collapse Disorder is the latest, and what seems to be the most serious die-off of honey bees colonies across the country. It is characterized by sudden colony death. It is also characterized by a slower than normal invasion by common pests such as wax moths and hive beetles.
Q What causes the disorder?
A It is not yet clear what is causing the die-off. At this point it seems likely that a number of factors may be involved.
Q Who is being impacted?
A As of February 2007, many of the beekeepers reporting heavy losses associated with the disorder are large commercial migratory beekeepers, some of who have lost 50 to 90 percent of their colonies. Surviving colonies are often so weak that they are not able to pollinate or produce honey.
Q Is honey from the colonies with the disorder safe to eat?
A. To date there is no evidence that the disorder affects honey. The impact of it appears to be limited to adult bees.
Source: Mid-Atlantic Apiculture Research and Extension Consortium
How important are bees?
* Millions of acres of U.S. crops depend on insect pollination, including honey bees. A 1999 Cornell University study found that the direct value of honey bee pollination each year to U.S. agriculture is $14.6 billion. This is a 56.7 percent increase from $9.3 billion determined by the same study in 1989
* The almond crop is entirely dependent on honey bee pollination. To pollinate California’s approximately 420,000 acres of almonds, it is estimated that it takes between 900,000 and 1,000,000 colonies of honey bees. Numerous other crops are 90 percent dependent on honey bee pollination. Some of those crops include apples, avocados, blueberries, cherries, cranberries and sunflowers. Other crops such as alfalfa, cucumbers, kiwi fruit, melons and vegetables are also pollinated by honey bees.
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