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Disappearing Bees and Colony Collapse
There has been huge publicity about the current plight of the poor honeybee. There has been large losses of colonies worldwide in recent years and it continues. The honey bee is a highly complex creature with an even more complex life style. Without doubt the causes of colony death are just as complex. The high level of chemical toxins routinely used in the environment and the parasitic Varroa mite seem to be the most likely causes. The varroa mite (with the very apt scientific name of Varroa destructor) originates in East Asia but has been in the UK since the early 1990's.
It has wrought havoc amongst honeybees ever since.
The mites feed on the developing honeybee larvae and pupae that can then fail to emerge as adult bees. Those adults that do emerge are often infected with viruses and are crippled or paralysed, their life span reduced. The population of the hive decreases as the population of the mites increases and very soon the hive is dead. This has led to the condition being described as Colony Collapse Disorder.
The native population of honeybees is all but gone and it is now seems that it is the beekeeper alone that stops the bees from dying out altogether. However this is an uphill struggle. There is no government support, no grants, (though in many countries, beekeepers are given support but not in U.K.)

Varroa destructor on honeybee drone pupae

Close up of Varroa mite on honeybee pupa

Honeybee with deformed wings
 

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