Why are honey bees important?
Honey bees pollinate about 100 U.S. agricultural crops, valued at $15 billion. They pollinate one third of the American diet. However, bee populations are declining due to a mysterious phenomenon known as “colony collapse disorder.” First identified three years ago, the disorder is characterized by hive abandonment. Adult bees abandon the hive, leaving behind the immature brood and food storage. In recent years, the nation’s beekeepers reported losing from one-third to all of their bees. What is the cause of colony collapse disorder? Bee specialists suspect a multitude of causes, including pesticides, diseases, parasites, stress, climate change and malnutrition.
