Unmasking a Beekeeping Foe

The cause and effect processes that occur within the environment are vital in influencing the path that each creature has to throttle. The understanding of these processes can help people that mainly rely on the environment for income and livelihood stability. Let's take a look at how having knowledge about the causes of colony collapse disorder can help the beekeeping people stay on their feet for a long while.

The initial reports of a lead group called Colony Collapse Disorder Working Group indicate that there are some patterns on the occurrence of the phenomenon but there is still more studies needed in order to draw out well-founded conclusions. A survey released in 2007 states that hobbyist beekeepers pinpoint starvation and malnutrition as the leading trigger for the reduction of bee colonies. On the other hand, commercial beekeepers emphasize that the culprit responsible for the death of colonies are simply invertebrates pests such as hive beetles, Varroa mites, and honey bee tracheal mites. Scientific research in 2007 maps out further variances of contributing factors.

According to studies by the lead group, affected colonies experience some sort of unexplained distress prior to their die-off period which is brought about by poor nutrition and drought. The report further indicates that all cases of CCD handled were related to the nutritional status of the colony. CCD did not manifest in bee groups that were adequately nourished and healthy. The study was supported by the claims of small scale beekeeping operators which stressed out that fifty percent of the weakened state and deaths of their bees had something to do with malnutrition.

There are researches associating the occurrence of CCD with theories revolving around pathogens and immunodeficiency. There are speculations that CCD can be a form of a contagious disease that specifically targets colonies but there are a greater number of believers that it falls on the category of an immunosuppressive mechanism. The magnitude and the extent of effect that causative and pathogenic agents have in adult bees are proportional to the type of immunosuppressant involved. There is actually a combination of the deformed wing virus which is transmitted by Varroa mites and bacteria.

There are other factors that can leave colonies susceptible to the plaguing effects of CCD. These factors include the usage of antibiotics and miticides, the presence of genetically modified or GM crops, climate changes, and electromagnetic radiation. GM crops are said to produce the natural insecticide BT Toxin which is believed to affect the bees. There are several scientists who relate the existence of CCD with the exposure of bees to climactic change and electromagnetic radiation fields.