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CCD is a phenomenon that occurs when worker bees abandon an otherwise healthy colony. There are various factors that are thought to contribute to this happening, such as

1.) Poisoning from pesticides applied to crops or directly to the hive for mite control.

2.) Destruction and change of the habitat that bees forage, leading to inadequate nutrition.

3.) Pests, specifically the invasive Varroa mite (Varroa Destructor).

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Colony Collapse Disorder and Pollinator Health | National Invasive Species Information Center

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Provides selected Colony Collapse Disorder and Pollinator Health resources related to the prevention, control, or eradication of invasive species.

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Insecticides, fungicides and herbicides sprayed on crops in the area of a hive threaten the reproductive system of bees, can affect their navigation and memory and can be harmful enough to kill them. Exposure to pesticides can also extenuate stressors already present to the colony.

Pathways of exposure include direct contact with bees (getting chemicals sprayed directly on them), residue contact (bee lands on foliage previously sprayed) and using contaminated materials for nesting.

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Whether using conventional or organic pesticides, be aware of the potential risks and take steps to minimize harm to bees and other beneficial insects.

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Human activities affect the lives of bees and contribute to CCD because of our rapid urbanization and destruction of the habitats that bees need to forage. Rolling fields full of flowers and weeds are now cookie cutter neighborhoods. Stress on the bees is a huge part of the problem with CCD and when the bees cannot find the resources they need within a certain radius of their hive, they fail to thrive.

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Varroa mite (Varroa Destructor) is a parasite that lives on the outside of the honeybee. The mite is responsible for inflicting more damage and higher economic costs than all other beekeeping diseases. The mite originated in Europe but has quickly spread worldwide, and chances of finding a varroa free colony anywhere but Australia are very low. Without continuous treatment, colonies would be decimated within a few short years. The periodic treatment adds costs to beekeepers and the risk of chemical exposure to the bees.

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Abstract

The ectoparasitic during the first half of the last century, the parasite dispersed world wide and is currently considered the major threat for honey bee mite was originally confined to the Eastern honey bee . After a shift to the new host apiculture. The damage caused by Varroosis is thought to be a crucial driver for the periodical colony losses in Europe and the USA and regular Varroa treatments are essential in these countries. Therefore, Varroa research not only deals with a fascinating host-parasite relationship but also has a responsibility to find sustainable solutions for the beekeeping.

This review provides a survey of the current knowledge in the main fields of Varroa research including the biology of the mite, damage to the host, host tolerance, tolerance breeding and Varroa treatment. We first present a general view on the functional morphology and on the biology of the Varroa mite with special emphasis on host-parasite interactions during reproduction of the female mite. The pathology section describes host damage at the individual and colony level including the problem of transmission of secondary infections by the mite. Knowledge of both the biology and the pathology of Varroa mites is essential for understanding possible tolerance mechanisms in the honey bee host. We comment on the few examples of natural tolerance in A. mellifera and evaluate recent approaches to the selection of Varroa tolerant honey bees. Finally, an extensive listing and critical evaluation of chemical and biological methods of Varroa treatments is given.

This compilation of present-day knowledge on Varroa honey bee interactions emphasizes that we are still far from a solution for Varroa infestation and that, therefore, further research on mite biology, tolerance breeding, and Varroa treatment is urgently needed.

D.L. Anderson
Non-reproduction of Varroa jacobsoni in Apis mellifera colonies in Papua New Guinea and Indonesia

Variation in the parasitic bee mite Varroa jacobsoni Oud

Arbeitsgemeinschaft der Institute für Bienenforschung e.V., 2007. Varroa unter Kontrolle....

Bioassay for grooming effectiveness towards Varroa destructor mites in Africanized and Carniolan honey bees

Aumeier P., Kirchner W.H., Liebig G., 2006. Topsy-turvy brood combs - Impact on population dynamics of honey bees (Apis...

Honey Bee Pathology

Becher, M.A., Moritz, R.F.A., 2009. A new device for continuous temperature measurement in brood cells of honeybees...

Berry, J.A., Owens, W.B., Delaplane, K.S., in press. Small-cell comb foundation does not impede Varroa mite population...

Defences of bees against Varroa jacobsoni defence mechanisms in Apis cerana and Apis mellifera

Contaminants of bee products

Natural selection of Varroa jacobsoni explains the different reproductive strategies in colonies of Apis cerana and Apis mellifera

Reproductive success of Varroa jacobsoni in brood of its original host, Apis cerana, in comparison to that of its new host, Apis mellifera

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Biology and control of Varroa destructor

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The ectoparasitic honey bee mite Varroa destructor was originally confined to the Eastern honey bee Apis cerana. After a shift to the new host Apis me...

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By becoming a beekeeper, you can actually help the CCD phenomenon by diversifying the bee population in your area. With careful procedures and ethical methods, you can help the honeybees and yield your own honey. The addition of a honeybee friendly garden and avoiding the use of chemicals makes the perfect habitat for your own colony to thrive.

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Colony collapse disorder (CCD) is a bizarre and concerning phenomenon that involves most of the worker bees in a colony disappearing and leaving behind a queen, food and some nurse bees to care for any remaining young.

Although this issue has had other names (including disappearing disease, spring dwindle and May disease), it was renamed CCD in 2006 when a drastic rise in disappearances became evident, most prominently in America but also across Europe.

As bees pollinate about one-third of the plants that humans eat, their environmental service has been valued at a whopping $US168 billion per year worldwide, making CCD a frightening environmental and economic reality.

The causes of CCD include various environmental factors that affect bees foraging for food. This activity is demanding, and bees need to travel long distances to reach hard-to-find flowers.

To do this, bees need highly tuned senses, spatial awareness, learning and memory. Therefore, anything that impinges upon these skills will handicap the bee from feeding and therefore pollinating.

Bee populations are, therefore, very sensitive to what is known as "sublethal stressors" - factors that don't kill the bees directly but can affect their behaviour. Some examples include pesticides, diesel fumes, climate change, pests and predators. So, as these stressors seem to be here to stay, it is time to act locally to help the bees avoid CCD outbreaks.

So, what can we do to help the bees in our local area and fend off the dreaded CCD?

The best thing that can be done to combat this issue is to become a beekeeper! By setting up your own hive or hives, you can introduce honey bees to your area and boost the population. Urban beekeeping-also known as hobby beekeeping or backyard beekeeping-is the practice of keeping bee colonies in urban areas.

This activity occurs in a variety of places from suburban backyards to the rooftops of inner-city restaurants. These operations can be as small as a single hive, are generally low-cost, and produce great results due to the hard work of the bees themselves. It's an activity that is good for the environment and simultaneously yields honey for the keeper.

Kids can also get involved and learn about the ecosystem. There are so many benefits to this hobby, and who knows, it might turn into a small business venture or life-long passion!

However, to assist with CCD, beekeepers will need to practice ethical methods and processes. The natural beekeeper respects the needs of the colony over themselves. This holistic approach comes from an environmentalist perspective that honours these miraculous insects and seeks to provide the most positive domesticated life cycle.

In turn, this "api-centric" approach should be encouraged for all beekeepers who want to keep bees for reasons other than intensive honey production, and this method will surely produce happy bees and help the fight against CCD.

More specifically, there are some technical considerations that can help the bees in your hive. Some of these methods include: replacing the old comb with a new comb every couple of years to prevent the build-up of chemicals in old wax; avoiding stressing your bees by providing good ventilation and food when it's scarce; monitoring Varroa mite (Not in Australia) in your colony and provide treatment if levels get out of control, and replacing equipment completely if the colony shows symptoms of CCD.

And finally, plant a bee-friendly garden. A bee-friendly garden will encourage bees to collect pollen and nectar from your own backyard. Creating these localised habitats makes a huge difference, not only to the life of bees, but also to the ecosystem at large.

It's therefore important to know which plants will be most attractive to bees. Interestingly, they prefer blue, purple and yellow blossoms. Therefore, some popular additions to your bee-friendly garden could be lavender, oregano, sage, thyme, borage, sunflowers, hypericum and tree dahlia.

Native bees also require specific plants to thrive, with some good suggestions being cut leaf daisy, flowering gum, pincushion hakea, tea tree, purple coral pea, grevilia pink surprise, native rosemary and bottlebrush.

And finally, avoid the use of chemicals and pesticides in your garden and on your lawn. Overusing and misusing pesticides is one of the factors that scientists anticipate are harming honey bees and causing CCD outbreaks.

For this reason, it is vital to limit the use of these chemicals, or better still, go natural at home! Have a chat with your neighbours and friends and encourage them to do the same; spreading the word, and building a community of bee-lovers, is the best way to ensure these amazing and useful animals build up their numbers worldwide.

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How Do You Fix Colony Collapse Disorder? | Ben's Bees

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Colony collapse disorder (CCD) is a bizarre and concerning phenomenon that involves most of the worker bees in a colony disappearing and leaving behind a queen, food and some nurse bees to care for any remaining young.