“Just covered an entire year of work on this topic. There has been a large number of ‘potential causes’ for Colony Collapse Disorder (CCD). From mobile phones to genetically modified crops (yes there’s published studies on mobile phones making honeybees go crazy). In parasitology it’s agreed that one of the main culprits is the Varroa destructor (mite) that is a vector for the virus’s that will kill the bees. Varroa itself won’t actually kill the bees (imagine a monkey on your back, annoying but won’t kill you, now give the monkey a gun). Most commonly transmitted by V. Destructor is Deformed Wing Virus.
Source: graduate of one of the top parasitology universities”
Perhaps one of the commercial guys on the forum could give us some insight here. According to Mike Palmer who bee keeps commercially in Vermont CCD has come and gone and very little is reported these days.
The main virus vectored by the Varroa mite is deformed wing virus which stops the bee from flying…as you can expect. There are others but DWV is the most important one. Nosema apis is self limiting and most colonies shake it off during the summer. N ceranae is a different thing all together but can be treated with sugar syrup laced with a little thymol. The important thing is to be aware of the symptoms it causes and be able to diagnose it yourself (easy to learn).
Varroa is easy to spot and is equally easy to keep under control.
Big Pharma has a lot to answer for re neonics and there is much evidence that their effects are potentiated ex by fungicides. We all at least can stop using them in our gardens. As an aside to all new beekeepers… Do not ever inspect your hives with disgusting gloves as shown in the picture yuk!
This has happened before. There are documented cases as far back as 1869, 1906, 1918, 1919, 1965, etc. Don’t think they had much pesticides back then. If neonics were the cause my bees should all be dead sitting 20’ from soybeans yet they do just fine. This time around I believe it was Varroa. Colonies are on the increase again and there are some good treatments out there for the Varroa mite.
