By  Pavi Pratyakchha Pandey

Honey Bees are disappearing in many parts of the world. Since the beginning of 2006, Beekeepers across the United States have been reporting alarming loss of their hives.

What is Colony Collapse Disorder ?

This phenomenon of disappearance of bees is being called Bees Colony Collapse Disorder or rather BCCD or CCD.In this disorder most the worker bees disappear . Only queen of bee hive and few nursing bees remain to survive.

This phenomenon was commonly found in European bees Apis Mellifera.

This phenomenon was also reported in many European countries like Belgium, France etc in 1998.

It has continued to spread across the American continent. In 2013, beekeepers were reporting average losses of 45 percent of their hives.

Why honey bees are economically important?

Honey bees are vital for pollination of agriculture and horticulture crops.It increases production of crops and produces honey, a very important food .

Collapse of bees population will decrease the food production in significant amount. It will lead to rise in food prices and low availablity of food for poors.

Who is causing honey bees disappearance?

Researchers of  Honey bees  are trying to figure out what is causing the disappearing act.

Current suspects include pesticides, parasites , viruses etc.

They have found many culprits like infections with viruses,malnutrition, various pathogens,mites,immunodeficiencies, genetic disorders, loss of  quality habitat, change in beekeeping practices,use of antibiotics, insecticide etc.

However, the most bigger villain is a family of chemicals called neonicotinoids .

It is a widely used insecticide , which acts as nerve toxin and has lasting effect.

It is mostly used for killing termites in agriculture and horticulture fields, factories,offices and homes.

Recently, it has become popular because it does not produce foul smell and is less toxic for mammales.

Active ingredients of neonicotinoids are  imidacloprid,  clothianidin and thiamethoxam etc.

How neonicotinoids affect honey bees ?

These neonicotinoids chemicals are used for treatment of seed.After growth of plant, these chemicals travel through plants nutrition-flow- channel to reach flowers and leaves.Their residues remain present in the nectar and pollen.

When honey bees drink this nectar these chemicals reach into nerve system of honey bees.

These chemicals cause learning disorder,loss of neurological control, memory loss etc.

Gradually, those worker honey bees which go for collection of nectar and pollen forget the route of their hives and wander around.

Most of honey bees forget their tasks and responsibilities.After some time, most of worker honey bees disappear and die.

Although, there is huge difference of opinion on this issue.

Many environment activists accuse big manufacturers of neonicotinoids for manipulating the opinion and findings against it.

Emergency Manager magazine talked with many experts and most of them accused neonicotinoids as major contributor for CCD.

We must search for alternatives for neonicotinoids as saving honey bees is more important than killing termites.

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