Update on Colony Collapse Disorder

 Across the United States and around the world, the honey bee populations have been mysteriously vanishing. Honey bee colony losses are not uncommon, however, the sort of disappearance witnessed in the last several years is unprecedented. This honey bee colony loss, called colony collapse disorder is due to uncharacteristic bee behavior: bees are failing to return to the hive and a number of different theories are bouncing around from mite infestation to pesticides, to a failing ecosystem to just plain fatigue…as in, bees are being worked to death.  Idaho Honey Industry Association Secretary/Treasurer and beekeeper Bill Ahaus reports his latest experiences. “My bees came back from California about a week ago, and I went out Saturday and Sunday and went through them and they looked really good. I was talking to a couple of other bee keepers and they told me the same thing that their bees look really good so everybody’s really optimistic right now. Even at that, I’m planning on giving them a pollen substitute, it’s pretty much brewer’s yeast and mix that with liquid sugar and give them an even bigger boost to keep them going because right now there isn’t a whole lot blooming yet. The orchards are a little bit behind schedule. Everything’s delayed with this cold weather. I feed them liquid sugar and pollen substitute just to keep that surge going.”