Honey Bee Mystery Solved?
by Jasmin Malik Chua, Jersey City, USA on 09. 7.07
Photo credit: mezzoblue
So where did all the bees go? A group of genetic researchers say they may finally have at least part of the explanation for why honey bees around the United States are dying out in droves, a phenomenon that is sending waves of panic throughout the agricultural industry.
Describing their research on Science's Web site yesterday, scientists say they've isolated a particular virus, called Israeli Acute Paralysis Virus (IAPV), in a large sample of bees affected by what has come to be known as Colony Collapse Disorder (CCD). The virus, which has also made appearances in Israel and Australia, paralyzes the bees, usually outside their hives. ::Wired News
See also: ::No Tinfoil Hats for Bees, ::Unexpected Haven for Bees, and ::Sweet News: Organic Bees Are Thriving
This is interesting, as the organic beekeepers have not had the same CCD problems, but that fails to make any mainstream headline news (that I've seen). I'm suprised "organic" bees were not included in this study, considering they used a "large sample" and that they are apparently not affected (at all) by this wave of CCD.
My local (Southern Oregon) organic beekeepers did not suffer these losses. The non-organic bees had 80% and higher losses, which is terrifying. Also the wild bees, which are presumably organic, are thriving here as a result of the CCD.
Like beef, poultry, crops et al, our drive to artificially increase yield has created negative long term consequences.
Here's a few articles a simple Google search for 'organic beekeepers' spit out:
http://www.celsias.com/2007/05/15/organic-bees-surviving-colony-collapse-disorder-ccd/
http://www.organicconsumers.org/articles/article_5094.cfm
http://www.infoshop.org/inews/article.php?story=20070604233744752
http://www.infowars.net/articles/may2007/110507bees.htm
I've been hearing the same thing about organic bees not having the same issues. But I'm not sure it's completely accurate. My girlfriend is master beekeeper of a meadery in small-town Colorado. The bees are organic (as far as -anyone- can really be sure) and 2 of their colonies disappeared.
When I told her about the organic claims she said that she could think of two reasons why CCD doesn't appear as common in the organic beekeeping industry. 1, generally organic farms are smaller, and they're a small part of the market as a whole. and 2, small organic farms don't have to report diseases or mites or things in their hives, but large non-organic farms do have to report when CCD strikes.
So I think the rates could be much lower, but I'm not prepared to buy the "organic bees are 100% immune" statement.
What the heck is a non-organic bee?