Researchers have investigated possible reasons ranging from hive-infecting mites to cell phone-tower radiation since reports of widespread bee die-offs began October 2006. They have yet to pinpoint the cause of colony collapse disorder — most likely because there isn’t just one, say University of Florida researchers.
The mysterious die-offs are likely a result of an accumulation of factors, which might include chemicals found in and around the hives, they say.
Just as mixing medications can have unpredictable results in humans, chemical mixes pose a quandary for the bee industry. Bees are commonly exposed to multiple pesticides that are either applied to or near their hives. “The larvae develop in the presence of and consume these mixtures,” said lead researcher Jamie Ellis. “Any one of these pesticides may not be that harmful to the developing larvae. However, it is possible that combinations of the pesticides can interact.”
The U.S. bee industry is responsible for pollinating $15 billion worth of crops each year. By some estimates, bee pollination is responsible for as much as a third of the food we eat. The work, funded by the North American Pollinator Protection Campaign, would be among the first to look at such combinations of chemicals introduced at the larval stage. “It is going to be a lot of work to run through all these scenarios, but at the end of the day, it’s the only way to really find out how all these factors come together,” Ellis said.
News brief originally published Winter 2010.
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