Decline of the Honey Bee TIP Group# 2

Facts About the Honey Bee Communicate the location, distance, quality and source of nectar or pollen using dance.(1) Every pound of honey produced requires nectar collection from 25,000 flights, visiting 2 million flowers, and 55,000 miles in flight. (2) Most subspecies of honeybees are not aggressive but the subspecies African honey bee (Apis mellifera scutellata) and the hybrid honey bees (Africanized honey bees) have been dubbed “Killer Bees”.(3)

Importance of Honey Bees (Apis mellifera) Fruits and vegetables require pollination to reproduce and the honey bee is one of the chief pollinators within an ecosystem. Honey bees pollinate estimated worth of more than 15 billion dollars for the foods consumed in the U.S.(4,5)

Value of Honey Bee Pollination Economics … Loss of colonies could seriously affect the production of several important crops that rely on pollination services provided by commercial beekeepers. Honey bee pollination contributes about $55 million to the value of crops in the Florida. Besides apples, other crops that depend in part on honey bee pollination include peaches, soybeans, pears, pumpkins, cucumbers, cherries, raspberries, blackberries and strawberries.

Honey Bee Hive Form and Function Honey bee hives are made of wax which is formed in hexagon- shaped cells or units. Hive cells provide storage for honey, larvae, and pollen. An active bee hive serves as a giant nursery, a honey factory, and a well-protected home. Honey bee hives may be domesticated and managed by farmers in grow boxes or they may be feral and located in wooded areas.

Colony Collapse Disorder (CCD) In October 2006, U.S. beekeepers began reporting losses of 30-90% of their hives. Some colony losses are expected during winter weather but the magnitude of those reported were highly unusual. The domesticated honey bee population has experienced a marked decline from 30% to 50% over the last two decades. Some pollinators may take over some roles of honey bees but not all. This phenomenon is termed as Colony Collapse Disorder (CCD). There is no documented underlying cause currently. An indicator of CCD is the absence adult honey bees. The queen lives, brood bees are present, and honey may remain, but there are no signs of dead honey bees in the hive. (4, 6)

Potential causes of CCD associated with declining numbers of Honey Bees Pesticides… Agriculturalists use chemicals on plant crops to deter or kill unwanted insects. Honey bees may come into contact with pesticides as they collect pollen from these sources and transport it back to the hive. Contamination of the hive would cause the bees to leave or die off. One pesticide contains a substance which affects the honey bee’s navigational ability and has been banned in France. (5)

Potential causes of CCD associated with declining numbers of Honey Bees Malnutrition… Mono-cropping is a process used by farmers who grow few products on a large scale. Domesticated honey bees are used as pollinators throughout the year for these few products. This pollination method does not provide honey bees with enough diversity in their diets to remain healthy resulting in sick and/or dying honey bees. (It’s like you eating only wheat for every meal for your life)

Potential causes of CCD associated with declining numbers of Honey Bees Mites… Researchers have deemed parasitic mites as plausible causes of CCD. State apiaries do not allow movement of used bee hives and inspect bee hives and require them to be boarded up if infected with mites Varroa destructor mites infect and feed on honey bee larvae in the brood cells. Mites of the species Nosema apis and Nosema ceranae infect the digestive tract of honey bees. Tracheal mites (Acarapis woodi) invade and reproduce in the airways of mature honey bees blocking the tubes and leading to asphyxiation. Israeli Acute Paralysis Virus (IAPV) is the most likely cause of CCD and the marked decline of honey bees in the U.S. since 2006. IAPV was first identified in Israel in 2004. This virus causes bees to develop shivering wings eventually leading to paralysis and death outside the hive. (5,6)

Potential causes of CCD associated with declining numbers of Honey Bees Intensive Agriculture… Bee farmers often move colony hives to different locations. Rapid seasonal changes affect relocated honey bee colonies and instigates stress and confusion within the hive. Bees become immuno-compromised and susceptible to diseases when in this state.

What can be done? How can you help the honey bees find More food Healthy diet Clean (mite free) home

Resources 1. Tales from the Hive. 1999. PBS. Available from http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/bees/dances.html 2. . History of CCBA Trivia Facts.2012. Chester County Beekeepers Association. http://www.chescobees.org/trivia.htm 3. Ellis, J. 2008. Featured Creatures: African Honey bee. University of Florida: Food and Agricultural sciences. Available from: http://entomology.ifas.ufl.edu/creatures/misc/bees/ahb.htm 4. United States Department of Agricultural (USDA). (2008). Colony Collapse Disorder: A Complex Buzz. Published in Agricultural Research May/June 2008 issue. http://www.ars.usda.gov/is/AR/archive/may08/colony0508.htm 5.Khamsi R. (2007). Paralysing virus a suspect in disappearing bee mystery. New Scientist, 22:61. http://www.newscientist.com/article/dn12605 6. Kaplan K. (2009). Pathogen Loads Higher in Bee Colonies Suffering from Colony Collapse Disorder. http://www.ars.usda.gov/is/pr/2009/090812.htm Images provided by Foto Search. http://www.fotosearch.com/photos-images/bees.html