The History of Colony COllapse disorder
Colony Collapse Disorder (CCD) plagued the world from around 2004-2009. The disease no longer threatens the honey bee population as it once did but it still remains a largely unsolved mystery. When CCD first appeared in honey bee hives no one knew what was going on. Bees are altruistic, meaning normally if they get sick they will fly away from the hive to die so they don't infect others. One of the major concerning symptoms of CCD was that whole hives were flying off to die. The bees infected with CCD appeared to possess symptoms of every disease scientists could test for. No single pest or parasite could be blamed, instead scientists believed CCD may have been some sort of autoimmune disorder.
Colony Collapse Disorder may have, for the most part, stopped, but the honey bee declines during the CCD years brought to light the continual decline of past decades. Scientists finally saw the problems facing bee populations and began studies on numerous factors affecting them, including pathogens.
Nosema Ceranae
Nosema Ceranae is a fungal gut infection that attacks mostly honey bees. This disease causes many negative impacts on honey bee hives.
- It causes juvenile hormone levels to increase which, in turn, can cause foraging behavior to start earlier. Bees who are not ready to start collecting pollen or nectar leave the hive, impairing hive function.
- Nosema can play a role in reducing the levels of important proteins that bees can store.
- The infection can also impact reproduction because the infected bees can be too full of spores to reproduce.
- Nosema can prevent stem cell renewal in the intestinal tract of bees and this leads to the inability of the bee's gut to repair the damage caused by the infection or future infections.
Silver Lining
Unlike other diseases affecting bees, Nosema Ceranae can be treated and cured with an antibacterial agent.
Other Bee Diseases
European Foulbrood (EFB) American Foulbrood (AFB) Chronic Bee Paralysis Colony Collapse Disorder |
Varroa Destructor Mite
Unlike Nosema Ceranae, a Varroa Mite infestation cannot be treated. However, insecticides can be applied to the hive in an attempt to keep the Varroa Mites away. Varroa Mites survive by drinking the blood of adult bees and feasting on bee larvae.
- Varroa Mites feed on the larvae of the bees and reproduce inside the sealed wax chamber where the helpless larvae are eaten alive. This destroys entire broods and is detrimental to the survival of the hive.
- The Mites shorten the lives of adult bees by sucking their blood and cause lower reproduction rates
- By impairing flight and lowering the rate at which bees return to the colonies after foraging, the mites put the colony's survival in jeopardy.
- Varroa Mites can also transmit other diseases to honey bees, making them a double edged sword.
Native Bees
All bees are especially susceptible to pathogens in places where commercial bee keeping is prominent. Honey bees are transported all over the world to pollinate commercial crops. If they are sick, the diseases spread to every new place they travel to. Scientists have found that honey bees can transmit certain diseases to native bees. For example, the Deformed Wing Virus disease can be transmitted to bumblebees and in some places more bumblebees than honey bees have been found sick with the virus.
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