Bee Decline

Colony Collapse Disorder is the most destructive cause of bee decline. On average, this disease kills around 30 to 90 percent of bees per year. Colony Collapse Disorder was discovered before bee decline was a major problem, and was known by names such as Disappearing Disease, Spring Dwindle, May Disease, Autumn Collapse, and Fall Dwindle Disease. In 2006, this disease was renamed Colony Collapse Disorder.

Colony Collapse Disorder is a disease that causes the worker bees of a colony to abandon their hive and the queen bee. The worker bees also leave behind the immature bees, and a few nurse bees to take care of the young bees. A colony can not survive without worker bees, so eventually, all of the bees left at the hive will die. Colony Collapse Disorder is so destructive because it will end up killing nearly every bee in every hive that is infected.

There are many proposed causes of Colony Collapse Disorder. These include Varroa and Acarapis mites, malnutrition, multiple pathogens, immunodeficiencies, genetic factors, habitat loss, and a change in beekeeping practices. Another factor that could be causing Colony Collapse Disorder is Neonicotinoids, a deadly pesticide. None of these cases have been accepted by scientists. This means that there is still no known cause of Colony Collapse Disorder.