As beekeepers we are flooded daily with questions from concerned consumers about what is happening to the bees. So we felt it necessary to give a brief explanation, (as brief as possible, anyway.)
Scientists and beekeepers across the USA are working hard to uncover the reasons behind the mysterious disappearance of honey bees. Over 30% of the nations colonies died over the winter of 2006/2007 with countless more dying over the 2007/2008 season. However, it seems to be affecting some beekeepers more severely than others. Whether you are a beekeeper or not this disorder is very troubling. It has potentially far reaching effects for all of us. What do we stand to lose? 1/3 of everything we eat is dependant on honeybee pollination. That translates to over 15 billion dollars (to about 130 crops) a year in the US. Not to mention the loss of the wonderful and incomparable bounty of the hive itself. Some crops that require or benefit dramatically from honey bee pollination include almonds, apples, blueberries, cashews, cherries, cucumbers, peaches, pears, peppers, pumpkins, raspberries, soybeans, squash, strawberries and sunflowers. Honey bees also pollinate most wild and native plants in our ecosystem. Helping to feed and support our animal wildlife. Clearly, honey bees are major players in the food supply and ecosystem. By February 2007, the syndrome, which is characterized by the disappearance of all adult honey bees in a hive while immature bees and honey remain, had been named “colony collapse disorder” (CCD). The question is, “Just what is causing CCD?” This is a very good question without a simple answer. Some potential causes have been named: environmental stresses (which include climate change and pesticides), pathogens, parasites and management stresses. Many scientists believe that CCD is likely due to a combination of factors. This makes investigating the cause of CCD especially complex. Over the last few years our nation has experienced climate change, such as intensified storms, floods and droughts. Whether caused by human activities or not these changes are affecting the honey bees. Simply put, in drought conditions, plants do not yield the vital nectar/pollen for the bees and in extremely wet conditions the bees cannot fly to avail themselves of the nectar/pollen. These large variations of weather stress the colony. Wayne Esaias, a NASA scientist, is conducting research on how climate change is affecting honey bees. Esaias believes that a beehive’s seasonal cycle of weight gain and loss is a sensitive indicator of the impact of climate change on flowering plants. According to his honey bees, big changes are underway. The most important event in the life of flowering plants and their pollinators—flowering itself—is happening much earlier in the year than it used to. Changes in the timing of honey production are a sign that climate change is affecting flowering trees.

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