Bees Leaving Hives

By Sara Stewart, Reporter

Eine Honigbiene fliegt auf eine Loewenzahnbluete zu am Donnerstag, 4. Mai 2006, auf einer Wiese in Zuerich. Ein grosser Teil der Schweizer Bienen hat den Winter nicht ueberlebt. Der Verlust wird auf insgesamt 20 bis 30 Prozent geschaetzt. Die Ursachen des Bienensterbens sind noch unklar. Die Wissenschaftler glauben, dass verschiedene Faktoren zusammenkamen: die ungenuegende Effizienz der Varroabekaempfung, die Einwinterung geschwaechter Voelker, die Spaettracht, Pestizide und schliesslich klimatische Elemente. Bis sich der Bienenbestand erholt hat, dauert es ein bis zwei Jahre. (AP Photo/Keystone, Lisa Maire) A bee flies towards a yellow blossom in Zurich, Switzerland on Thursday, May 4, 2006. Many of the Swiss bees did not survive the winter. According to scientists, between 20 and 30 percent died but reasons are unclear. (AP Photo/Keystone, Lisa Maire)

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By Sara Stewart

Story Created: May 10, 2008 at 7:55 PM CST

Story Updated: May 10, 2008 at 7:55 PM CST

Bee pollination contributes 15 billion dollars to the food industry.

Fruits, nuts, and even some vegetables rely on pollination from bees.

But now, bees here and across the country are mysteriously abandoning their hives.

It's called colony collapse disorder.

Researchers around the country are receiving federal grants to find a cause.

The bees are busy here at Indian Creek Nature Center without showing any signs of leaving home.

But the center's Beekeeper, Bob Wolff says it's still a concern.

"It is affecting all the beekeepers and it is impacting the eco system," he says.

A recent survey by the Apiary Inspectors of America releases a grim picture.

More than 35 percent of commercial hives nationwide are gone, in a year.

The signs are here, too.

“There are a couple beekeepers that suspect they have colony collapse," Wolff says.

There are about 20,000 to 30,000 bees in this colony. If it had the collapse disorder, it would have no bees dead or alive.

Pesticides, parasites, or stressors could all be reasons bees are vanishing.

But until they know the cause, there's nothing Beekeepers can do to prevent it.

"With the colony collapse and the disruption of the honey bees it could disrupt the food source so it's very important to try and figure what's going on with this," he says.

Without an exact cause or cure, experts say the foods bees pollinate could be at risk.

There are rumors that cell phones are causing the disappearance.

But experts say that's not true.

A healthy hive in its peak will have 80-thousand bees.

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