Green Daily

Next time you swat a bee, or squish one into the cement, ask the Bee God for forgiveness. The Colony Collapse is a serious problem, and scientists have a few theories on what's going on. Any one or all of them could be at play.

The varroa mite is one dangerous creature for bees. Dr Eric Mussen of the University of California says this mite attaches to a bees abdomen and sucks out bee blood. That weakens the bee, and while the bee tries to shake the mite off, it just isn't that good at fighting the mite.

Another possible cause is bee exploitation. Some scientists suggest that the reason the Colony Collapse is acute in the U.S. is due to poor management. Bees may be stressed to greatly during travel when bees are 'rented out' to pollinate crops. Or they may be under-cared for in captivity. Many bee keepers take great offense at this suggestion.

A third possibility is climate change. Damp weather is bad for bee productivity. Physically, bee keepers say they don't do well in that weather. But a bigger problem may be earl flowering. bees build their hives as flowers bloom. As that period has moved up in the year, bees may not be able to keep up with the shift, drastic weather shifts could also be disrupting their life cycle.

[via BBC]