Bees Dying of Unknown Disorder Dubbed "Colony Collapse"

Honey bees in twenty-two states are dying in the fields of an unknown disorder investigators have dubbed "colony collapse; The disorder is believed to be tied to the bees’ immune systems. Apparently, they flee their hive, become disoriented, and die from the cold. Theories as to the cause range from issues with imported bee strains from Israel and Egypt, the cumulative effect of long-term exposure to pesticides, and changes brought about by genetically modified plant pollen, to viruses and fungus.

Bees play a critical role in the pollination of one-third of all crops. Jamie Ellis, an assistant entomology professor at the University of Florida’s honeybee research lab, said, "The agriculture industry is built on the backs of honeybees." Not only are food crops such as almonds, apples, strawberries, and apricots dependent on the bee, but bees pollinate alfalfa and other crops fed to livestock, widening the potential disruption to the entire food supply.