Colony Collapse Disorder

No, this is not a story about the British Empire of yore. It is the story of a much larger colony, many colonies, actually. Honeybees are disappearing in the millions around the U.S. and other parts of the world. Bee keepers are panicking; some have been forced out of business. Imagine a cattle rancher whose entire herd has suddenly disappeared without a trace, and that is what bee keepers are experiencing. Roughly one fourth of our domestic agricultural crop is completely dependent upon honeybees for polination; without their assistance, those crops cannot reproduce. No, we're not going to starve because of this (Einstein was wrong), but if the problem is not solved it will cause tremendous damage to agriculture and local economies. The following article sums it up well. Colony Collapse Disorder KELOLAND TV, SD - May 23, 2007 - CCD or colony collapse disorder is what scientists say is killing tens of millions of bees in the U.S. ... CCD or colony collapse disorder is what scientists say is killing tens of millions of bees in the US. Since the discovery of CCD, Adee says he has lost a few colonies but nowhere near the number of losses many other beekeepers are dealing with. And if you don't think CCD will affect you, think again. Sooner or later consumers will feel the sting of fewer bees at the grocery store. Adee says, "And that's why Congress is so concerned. Ninety crops depend on bee pollination. One bite out of every three we eat comes from bee pollinated crops." FULL ARTICLE... Fungus a possible culprit in bee loss Are mobile phones wiping out the bees? French Beekeepers Brace for Asian Sting