| CCD |
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| As if beekeepers did not have enough to worry about, what with the various diseases and invasions of mites and small hive beetles, now we have to deal with the mysterious Colony Collapse Disorder (CCD). I am giving you some notes I took from HAS 2007 and the Clemson Summer meeting briefings on this subject. I am also putting up some links to various papers on the subject: This one was presented to Congress this year: http://www.fas.org/sgp/crs/misc/RL33938.pdf For more info on CCD from other sources: Mid-Atlantic Apiculture Research and Extension Consortium US map of areas affected by CCD Fall Dwindling Report Recommendations for Beekeepers on CCD Various Information on CCD from the USDA/ARS |
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| Notes from Dr Nancy Ostiguy's lecture on CCD at the HAS 2007 in Kentucky (if there are errors here it is because of my lack of understanding, not because of what Dr. Ostiguy presented. I have done my best to present what she briefed accurately and concisely): Characteristics of CCD: 1. Sudden colony death (3-6 week period) with no dead bees around or in the hive 2. Often there is just the queen and a small group of nurse bees in the brood area 3. There may be evidence of recent brood rearing 4. While there is honey and bee bread left in the hive, there is delay in robbing and slower than normal invasion by pests like SHB and wax moth Researchers have found the foragers are not returning to the hive for reasons as yet unknown. How CCD differs from previous losses like fall dwindling disease, disappearing disease, etc: 1. Rapid onset 2. Very large number of colonies affected 3. No seasonality to this problem 4. No dead bees found Possible causes that have already been eliminated: Cell phones, power lines, genetically modified pollen, nosema, use of bees (honey, pollination, or both), HFCS, queen source, chemical use in/outside the hive Part of the problem is that the hives tend to have a combination of problems at the same time; researchers expect to find CCD caused by a combination of factors: biological, chemical, physical Current hypotheses under study: 1. Chemical residue/contamination in wax, honey, pollen, brood food, nectar, bees 2. Known/unknown pathogens, fungi, bacterial, viral. NOTE: Researchers have found a virus that appears to be highly associated with CCD at this point in the research. Further research must be done. 3. Parasite load - no mites have been found in the remnant of the colonies but why is unknown 4. Nutritional fitness of adult bees - are they eating food that provides complete nutrition or are they living off the bee equivalent of junk food 5. Stress levels (measured by specific proteins in the bees) are high in CCD colonies. NOTE: The migratory beekeepers were hit hard and first, if there is a relationship it is not yet known 6. Lack of genetic diversity in honey bee lineage. It will be a slow process to determine the cause of CCD - remember that AIDS/HIV research presented the fastest results ever and it took some years to accomplish. Equipment that once held a hive that suffered CCD should not be reused. Research has shown that subsequent colonies will also suffer CCD. How long the equipment is 'contaminated' for and whether or not it can be 'cleaned' for reuse is being studied. |
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| These are my notes from Dr. Jerry Hayes' lecture at Clemson 19 July 2007 (again, any confusions here are mine, not his. I have tried to present this information accurately and concisely): These notes begin just like Dr. Ostiguy's, with characteristics, signs of CCD, differences, etc, so I am presenting the differences between the two lectures here and providing scanned versions of the handouts. There are questions about Some of the remaining bees in the colony have been dissected, there are problems with the digestive tracts, kidney damage, scar tissue, discoloration of the thorax, and indications that the bee's immune system was failing. Dr. Hayes also provided handouts, which you can access by the websites above. The Colony Collapse Disorder Action Plan can be accessed at the USDA/ARS website: http://www.ars.usda.gov/is/br/ccd/ccd_actionplan.pdf |
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| Go to: CCD Q&A CCD Recommendations |
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