Bee Health

Honeybees are in trouble: Colony Collapse Disorder

Colony Collapse Disorder – Honeybees are dying due to a number of reasons such as pesticides, climate change, mite infestations, and habitat destruction. In the mid-2000s, honeybees have been decimated because of colony collapse disorder. During winter time between the years of 2014 through 2017, a higher number of commercial bees have died compared to the normal number. One of the most common problems that beekeepers face is the colony collapse disorder that kills their bees as well as the hives that those bees have established.  This phenomenon causes the worker bees to die at an alarming rate thereby leaving their queen and immature bees behind. It’s important for bee keepers and those planning to raise bees to be aware of this problem so that they will be able to educate themselves with what to do should this happen to them.

What is a Colony Collapse Disorder?

Everyday, billions of bees are go out of their hive to gather food (mostly, nectar) and pollinate. However, recently, the bees that left to hunt for food are mysteriously not coming back. Let’s look at the facts that might shed light to this phenomenon. The problem was first discovered in the year 2006 and 2007 where the bee keepers reported an alarming decline on their bees and colonies. Most of the owners find dead bees near the hives and the queen left alone with the young which eventually led to the death of all bee workers in a hive and the collapse of the colony (hence, Colony Collapse Disorder).

Cause of Colony Collapse DisorderColony-Collapse-Disorder

The cause for this phenomenon hasn’t been discovered as of yet however, scientists and experts have think that it’s partly because of the fact that the pesticides alone could have weakened the bees immune system or worse, killed them. This led them to believe that the Colony Collapse Disorder could have been caused by acute pesticide poisoning. Another theory of scientists is the increase in the Varroa Mite population, the newly emerged Acute Paralysis, and the gut parasite common in bees called Nosema. Keepers experience the most loss in their honeybee population during the winter. However, on 2015, they were able to experience more loss on summer than on winter. If the loss continues to rise, there’s no stopping them from going extinct by the year 2035.

The honeybees are known to be the best pollinator species. For most of their life, they buzz around from flower to flower collecting pollen and nectar. This, in turn, leads to the propagation of fruits, flowers, and other agricultural products that are sold in the market.

The decline in the crops led to an increase in demand. Producers as well as keepers were forced to top off the original price of their products to address the problem. Moreover, colony collapses doesn’t just affect the crops. It also affects the supply of dairy and beef since honeybees also help in the pollination of hays, clover, and forage products. This also led to the increase in the prices of milk and beef products in the market.

Colony Collapse Disorder

.

 

Interested in beekeeping? Here are some beekeeping supplies you want to get your hands on to start with!

1. Ventilated Suit – https://amzn.to/2D1hJBu 

(NEW)  Ventilated Jacket – https://amzn.to/2Av6piJ

2. Beekeeper YKK Suit Combo – https://amzn.to/2Xk3xLz

3. Beekeeper Journal – https://bit.ly/3xXxFl2

4. YKK Suit – https://amzn.to/2IDJALO

5. Beekeeper Jacket – https://amzn.to/2FirwTW

6. Beekeeping Gloves:

           – Goatskin Beekeeping Gloves – https://amzn.to/2GYxBZW

          – Cow Leather Beekeeping Gloves – https://amzn.to/2uiSExd

7. Queen Marking Kit  –  https://amzn.to/2Wm1kCw

         – Queen Marking Pens – https://amzn.to/3c4vE8y

         –Queen Marking Cage – https://amzn.to/2TDwwdQ

🐝 Good Luck and Happy Beekeeping!

Facebooktwitterredditpinterestlinkedinmail

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *


Related Articles

Check Also
Close
Back to top button