Bee Colony Collapse Disorder (CCD)

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Table of Contents

Urban Beekeeping
Benefits Of Urban Beekeeping
References

Several beekeepers first reported Colony Collapse Disorder (CCD) in the US during the winter of 2006-2007. The disorder is characterized by the loss of between 30-90% of worker bees (Ellis, Evans and Pettis 2015). This phenomenon has been an issue of concern among beekeepers, environmentalists, and the general public (Ellis et al. 2015). It is important to note that over 50% of the world’s plants rely on worker bees for pollination (Moore and Kosut 2013, 44). With the mass loss of worker bees, it is believed that the world will suffer a significant loss of its vegetation. The U.S. Environment Protection Agency (EPA) describes the disorder as:

During the winter of 2006-2007, some beekeepers began to report unusually high losses of 30-90% of their hives. As many as 50 percent of all the affected colonies demonstrated symptoms inconsistent with any known cause of honeybee death: sudden loss of the colony’s worker bee population with very few dead bees found near the colony. The queen and the brood remained, and the colonies had relatively abundant honey and pollen. However, hives cannot sustain themselves without worker bees and would eventually die. (Moore and Kosut 2013, 42).

Entomologists and beekeepers agree that bee colonies have significantly dwindled and disappeared (EPA n.d). However, the current phenomenon is dangerous, as no one seems to know where the bees are going. The ongoing bee colony’s disappearance is unique in its ways since no one can attest that Colony Collapse Disorder has led to bees’ mass death. In essence, in the event of bees dying, dead bees would be found near the hives. This has not been the case with CCD as there are no available dead bees in or near hives (EPA n.d). Scientists are left in confusion, trying to explain what could have triggered worker bee colonies’ disappearance from the hives.

The honey bees’ mysterious disappearance left the U.S. beekeepers, entomologists, and reporters confused about what could have led to their mass loss. So far, no one has comprehensively explained the CCD phenomenon. Several theories to explain the characteristic were advanced by different focus groups concerned with bees’ loss. For instance, since the CCD’s discovery, the issue was linked to power lines, mites, cell phone towers, and pesticides (EPA n.d). These reasons were to explain the strange loss of the honeybee and what it meant for the population. The internet narrative advanced this story to a higher notch by showing the honey bee’s potential extinction.

Some narratives quoted Albert Einstein’s words, “If the bee disappears from the surface of the earth, man would have no more than four years to live. No more bee, no more pollination, no more men” (Moore and Kosut 2013, 46). Although he was not an entomologist, his words had a significant effect on people when CCD occurred in the world as they triggered discussions around the need for the world to think about the bee’s importance (Williams et al. 2010). However, it is possible to have pollination without bees.

Without the bee, humans would have to live with a reduced range of foods they are accustomed to today. The disappearance of bumblebee colonies led to an intensified campaign on the need to conserve bees. The campaign resulted in an increased awareness of the honeybee’s importance, which has seen a rise in urban beekeeping programs in various cities across the globe.

Urban Beekeeping

For a long period, bees have been considered wild insects. Few people have been concerned about their existence or somewhat concerned about their importance to the ecosystems. With the occurrence of CCD in the winter of 2006-2007, the world became more aware of the bees’ importance (Ellis et al. 2015). Occasionally, individuals would encounter bees in their day-to-day activities, which may be the primary reason why most people were not concerned about their existence. One would not need to go to a zoo or marine park to see this insect.

Various cities around the world had prohibited urban beekeeping until late 2009. This follows their aggressiveness and the danger they pose to the public when they are disturbed. For centuries, archeologists have shown that people in ancient cities practiced urban beekeeping (Mavrofridis 2018). With the emergence of CCD and the various campaigns that followed in order to save the bee from extinction, several people have considered keeping bees in the urban centers.

The honeybees are essential species of insects that human beings cannot live without. This follows the significant role they play in aiding pollination. Considering the current cities are mostly commercial buildings and residential properties, the primary question is urban beekeeping and how it is carried out in the current setting (Mavrofridis 2018). Urban beekeeping refers to the process of rearing bees for honey in urban centers.

It is common knowledge that most honeybees are wild and pose a threat to the public (Moore and Kosut 2013). In the quest to protect them from extinction and show support for the insect, several people have decided to rear bees in urban centers (Mavrofridis 2018). For instance, while some people have been seen buying T-shirts with saving the bee messages, other adherents of the movements have placed hives in their residential backyards to rear this unique insect. Moreover, some people start bee farming on the rooftops of most commercial buildings in cities worldwide. This trend has played a significant role in creating awareness about the importance of bees to the environment.

Benefits Of Urban Beekeeping

Apart from getting pure honey, which has several health advantages, urban beekeeping offers city residents many benefits. With individuals migrating from rural to urban centers, not many people have been aware of the bumblebee’s importance to the environment. Urban beekeeping has provided the city residents with an opportunity to appreciate bees’ efforts and roles in nature (Moore and Kosut 2013). Moreover, the practice has also presented a source of natural honey to the city residents. Furthermore, urban beekeeping has also improved the cities flora and fauna as they buzz around, pollinating different vegetation around the city (Wright 2017). Finally, urban beekeeping has addressed the concerns raised after the emergence of CCD across the globe, increasing the number of colonies.

In conclusion, there is a dire need for creating awareness about protecting the honeybee for human consumption purposes. Urban beekeeping programs should be encouraged across all cities around the globe. This approach will play a significant role in promoting pollination. Following the emergence of CCD, entomologists need to emphasize investigating the possible causes of the phenomenon. This way, the bumblebee colonies will be saved from extinction.

References

Ellis, James D., Jay D. Evans, and Jeff Pettis. 2015. “Colony Losses, Managed Colony Population Decline, And Colony Collapse Disorder in The United States.”Journal of Apicultural Research 49 (1): 134–136.

EPA, US. n.d. “Colony Collapse Disorder.”

Mavrofridis, Georgios. 2018. “Urban Beekeeping in Antiquity.” Ethnoentomology 2: 52–61.

Moore, Lisa, and Mary Kosut. 2013. Buzz Urban Beekeeping and the Power of the Bee. New York: New York University Press.

Williams, Geoffrey R, David R Tarpy, Dennis van Engelsdor, Marie-Pierre Chauzat, Diana L Cox-Foster, Keith S Delaplane, Peter Neumann, Jeffery S Pettis, Richard E L Rogers, and Dave Shutler. 2010. “Colony Collapse Disorder in Context.”Bioessays 32 (10): 845–846.

Wright, Lisa. 2017. “The Rise and Rise of Urban Beekeeping.”BBC News.

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Bee Colony Collapse Disorder (CCD)

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