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CCD as a Syndrome

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) and university researchers have concluded, based on numerous scientific studies from around the country, that CCD is not a malady caused by a single factor. It appears to be a "syndrome" caused by a combination of many factors, possibly working synergistically.

Disappearing Workers and Foragers

The condition that most characterizes CCD and also makes the disorder challenging to study is that adult bees simply disappear. An affected colony typically has a queen and plenty of brood but not enough foragers or workers to feed and care for the brood. In CCD, there is no evidence of dead bees in or around the hive, no obvious pest or predator, and no apparent condition within the hive that would cause bees to want to flee.

The condition that most characterizes colony collapse disorder is that adult bees simply disappear.

Why Don't Other Colonies Come In?

Another curious condition of this malady is that other colonies and pests do not take advantage of weakened colonies as they normally would. Usually, stronger colonies will rob honey from weak colonies with extra stores, and other pests will show up quickly due to the lack of defense, but in colonies suffering from CCD, there is a notable delay in the onset of these occurrences. It is not yet understood why this is the case.

Factors that Influence CCD

A number of factors influence the occurrence of CCD, including:

• A combination of sublethal effects of numerous pesticides
• Diseases, especially viruses and nosema, that weaken the immune systems of honey bees
• Varroa mites
• Colony stressors, such as monocultural farming techniques, that reduce pollen diversity and result in poor nutrition
• Exposure to contaminated water supplies