EDITOR'S COMMENT:
MAAREC, the Mid-Atlantic Apiculture Research and Extension Consortium, has a page up on their website that is tracking the honey bee die-off in the states. Of special interest are a "Map of U.S. States Reporting Colony Collapse Disorder", "CCD Frequently Asked Questions", and "Tentative Recommendations for Hives Experiencing CCD". The MAAREC web page and links are followed by links to special podcasts that are monitoring the Honey Bee Colony Collapse Disorder.
--- David Sunfellow
------------
COLONY COLLAPSE DISORDER
http://maarec.cas.psu.edu/ColonyCollapseDisorder.htmlColony Collapse Disorder (CCD) is the name that has been given to the latest, and what seems to be the most serious, die-off of honey bee colonies across the country. It is characterized by, sudden colony death with a lack of adult bees in/in front of the dead-outs. Honey and bee bread are usually present and there is often evidence of recent brood rearing. In some cases, the queen and a small number of survivor bees may be present in the brood nest. It is also characterized by delayed robbing and slower than normal invasion by common pests such as wax moth and small hive beetles.
............
CURRENT LINKS:
Colony Collapse Disorder - testimony by Diana Cox-Foster before U.S. House of Representatives Committee on Agriculture, Subcommittee on Horticulture and Organic Agriculture (3/28/2007) (pdf)
...
CRS Report for Congress - Recent Honey Bee Colony Declines (3/27/2007) (pdf)
...
Summary of Research on the Non-target Effects of Bt Corn Pollen on Honeybees (3/28/2007)
...
CCD Working Group Summary of Purpose and Responsibility (pdf)
...
Fall Dwindle Disease (Now renamed Colony Collapse Disorder) Preliminary Report (pdf)
...
Map of U.S. States Reporting Colony Collapse Disorder (jpg)
...
CCD Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) (3/2007) (pdf)
...
Tentative Recommendations for Hives Experiencing CCD (3/9/2007) (pdf)
...
Fall Dwindle Disease talk - Austin, Texas (2/07) (pdf)
...
Colony Collapse Disorder Press Release (1/30/2007)
-------------
HONEY BEES IN CRISIS
CCD Podcasts
http://podcasts.psu.edu/node/262In recent months, there has been an alarming decimation of honey bee colonies for which there is no explanation. Scientists are studying the problem from a variety of angles – mites and their associated viral diseases, unknown fungal pathogens, pesticide contamination, etc. During Spring 2007, students in SCIED/ENT 497 are investigating what is now being called Honey Bee Colony Collapse Disorder (CCD). Episodes will examine bees as organisms, their disappearance in mass, the potential economic impact, and scientific hypotheses for CCD and the associated evidence. Subscribe to Honey Bees in Crisis for up-to-date information on this serious problem as it unfolds.
Subscribe to the RSS feed for iTunes.............
HOW BEEKEEPERS CAN HELP:
Complete the survey found at:
http://www.beesurvey.com------------
PREVIOUS NHNE NEWS LIST ARTICLES:
ARE MOBILE PHONES WIPING OUT OUR BEES? (4/15/2007):
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/nhnenews/message/12851
BEE COLONIES ACROSS U.S. CONTINUE TO DIE (4/7/2007):
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/nhnenews/message/12825
ARE GM CROPS KILLING BEES? (3/23/2007):
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/nhnenews/message/12754
HONEYBEES VANISH, LEAVING KEEPERS IN PERIL (2/27/2007):
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/nhnenews/message/12647
U.S. BEE COLONIES DECIMATED BY MYSTERIOUS AILMENT (2/14/2007):
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/nhnenews/message/12588
PARASITE DEVASTATES U.S. BEES (5/2/2005):
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/nhnenews/message/9104
MAD BEE DISEASE (2/20/2001):
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/nhnenews/message/1181