The Disappearance of America's Bees... It's NOT Science Fiction!

It may sound like a big-budget summer movie, but it really is happening!

Honeybees are disappearing.  Bees leave their hives and do not return.  They leave behind the hives, the honey and the queen who cannot survive without the drones.  It appears that the ones who are left behind have poor immune systems and are diseased.

The mass exodus could devastate the bee industry.  Over 25% of bee colonies across the United States have been affected.  So far, 24 states have reported disappearances with as many as 90% of a colony gone.

When bees die, you will find them near the hive.  Worker bees will carry them outside the hive or they die in the area of their home.  But, now, there are no bodies found.  Normally, weakened colonies become overrun by other bees and pests who steal the honey, but none of the abandoned colonies are being touched.  The hives look fine, but most of the mature bees have disappeared and the young bees are alone.

Bees are necessary for the pollination of fruits, vegetables and nuts in the U.S.  75% of most food crops depend on bees to pollinate the plants for fertilization.  At the present rate, there will be shortages of honey and threats to many of the other food crops such as oranges and almonds.

It is not known for sure what is causing the disappearance, but it is there are several theories.  Bees are fed high fructose corn syrup, genetically modified crops or pesticides could be factors.  A new idea is radiation from cell phone towers might be disorienting the bees and causing them to die.

Whatever it is, scientists need to figure it out and fast!