Silent Buzz
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Silent Buzz
THE SILENT BUZZ
The Silent Buzz
Bedel Saintange
EN 112
Final Paper
April 11, 2008
Abstract
American agriculture is addicted to honeybees and in the past few years we have begun to run short of them. Colony Collapse Disorder (CCD), a significant disappearance of honey bee colonies that may be affecting bees in more than 22 states, threatens the production of crops dependent on bees for pollination as well as honey production. Of the 2.4 million colonies of bees in the United States, this need is projected to increase significantly over the next few years. This paper outlines the extensive research being done to prevent the collapse of the honeybee colony and steps being taken to remedy the situation.
The Silent Buzz
The domesticated European honeybee was introduced to North America 400 years ago by colonists at Jamestown and Williamsburg to provide their settlements with honey. Few bees native to the continent produced enough honey to make harvesting viable. Since then the honeybee has spread into every farmable corner of North America. The honeybee is a remarkable insect so small yet so vital to the fruits and vegetables that we eat. Autumn collapse, May disease, spring dwindle, disappearing disease and fall dwindle disease are all the names mistakenly given to colony collapse disorder. Autumn collapse was inappropriate because the bees are disappearing throughout the year. Dwindle implies a steady decline of the bees population while the actual rate of adult bee loss in population have not been recorded it is evident that colonies can quickly lose their workforce in a matter of weeks. Disappearing has been used to refer to other conditions that do not share the same symptoms as those being presented, and the term disease is commonly associated with a pathogenic agent. Colony “Collapse Disorder (or CCD) is a little-understood phenomenon in which worker bees from a beehive or
Silent Buzz
THE SILENT BUZZ
The Silent Buzz
Bedel Saintange
EN 112
Final Paper
April 11, 2008
Abstract
American agriculture is addicted to honeybees and in the past few years we have begun to run short of them. Colony Collapse Disorder (CCD), a significant disappearance of honey bee colonies that may be affecting bees in more than 22 states, threatens the production of crops dependent on bees for pollination as well as honey production. Of the 2.4 million colonies of bees in the United States, this need is projected to increase significantly over the next few years. This paper outlines the extensive research being done to prevent the collapse of the honeybee colony and steps being taken to remedy the situation.
The Silent Buzz
The domesticated European honeybee was introduced to North America 400 years ago by colonists at Jamestown and Williamsburg to provide their settlements with honey. Few bees native to the continent produced enough honey to make harvesting viable. Since then the honeybee has spread into every farmable corner of North America. The honeybee is a remarkable insect so small yet so vital to the fruits and vegetables that we eat. Autumn collapse, May disease, spring dwindle, disappearing disease and fall dwindle disease are all the names mistakenly given to colony collapse disorder. Autumn collapse was inappropriate because the bees are disappearing throughout the year. Dwindle implies a steady decline of the bees population while the actual rate of adult bee loss in population have not been recorded it is evident that colonies can quickly lose their workforce in a matter of weeks. Disappearing has been used to refer to other conditions that do not share the same symptoms as those being presented, and the term disease is commonly associated with a pathogenic agent. Colony “Collapse Disorder (or CCD) is a little-understood phenomenon in which worker bees from a beehive or
References: Alexei B. (April 2007). Bees vanish, and scientist race for reasons. New York Times. Retrieved April 3, 2008, from http://www.nytimes.com/2007/04/24/ science/24bees.html?_r=1&em&ex=1177646400&en=4ace038af13ed08e&ei=5087%0A&oref=slogin Colony collapse disorder action plan. (2007,June) CCD steering committee. Retrieved April 4, 2008, from http://www.ars.usda.gov/is/br/ccd/ccd_actionplan.pdf. Edgewood Chemical Biological Center (2007, April 26). Scientists Identify Pathogens That May Be Causing Global Honey-Bee Deaths. ScienceDaily. Retrieved April 9, 2008, from http://www.sciencedaily.com /releases/2007/04/070426100117.htm Johnson, R. Recent honeybee colony declines. Congressional Research Service. Retrieved April 3, 2008, from http://www.fas.org/sgp/crs/misc/RL33938.pdf Levy, S. ( 2006, Summer) The vanishing. On Earth. Retrieved April 9th, 2008. Minkel, JR. (2007, September) Mysterious honeybee disappearance linked to rare virus. Retrieved April 4, 2008, from http://www.sciam.com/article.cfm?id=bees-ccd-virus. Mussen C. E. (2004). Don’t underestimate the value of honey bees. Retrieved April 4, 2008, from University of California, Davis, Department of Entomology: http://entomology.ucdavis.edu/faculty/mussen/DontUnderEstim-02.pdf US Department of Agriculture (2008, February 16). Colony Collapse Disorder: Researchers Work To Control Varroa Mites, Increase Longevity Of Queen Bees. ScienceDaily. Retrieved April 9, 2008, from http://www.sciencedaily.com /releases/2008/02/080212200725.htm US Department of Agriculture (2007, November 29). Imported Bees Not Source Of Virus Associated With Colony Collapse Disorder. ScienceDaily. Retrieved April 11, 2008, from http://www.sciencedaily.com /releases/2007/11/071126153030.htm