Entomologists have a real mystery. Throughout the country, honey bees leave the hives and disappear forever in an unknown direction. In a fairly short period of time, the hive practically becomes empty. Scientists called this phenomenon the incomprehensible collapse of the colony. According to reports of beekeepers throughout the country, from the beginning of the fall in the United States about 25-40 percent of honey bees have disappeared from the hives. While no one can name the cause of this mass extinction of bees.
The disappearance of bees causes quite serious concern, as bees play an important role in the production of about one third of foods consumed in food, including apples, watermelons, and almonds, since bees carry pollen from one flower to another. Without this process, called pollination, the plant can not produce seeds or fruits.
Now scientists and beekeepers have united in order to find out the reason for the disappearance of many colonies of bees. By joint efforts, studying the behavior, nutrition and health of bees, the group members hope to find out the cause and prevent the disappearance of bees in the future.
It is possible that the disappearance of bees is associated with some kind of disease. In order to investigate this possible reason, scientists from the research laboratory at the US Department of Agriculture conducted a thorough examination of the bees from the endangered colonies.
It turned out that the bees from the endangered colonies did not turn out to be very healthy, and some changes were found in their digestive organs. Perhaps some parasite damages the digestive organs of the bees. The inability of bees to fight these parasites can indicate a weakened immune system. Other signs of a weakened immune system of bees are a high level of bacteria and fungi in the body. But why does the presence of parasites, bacteria or fungi in the body cause them to leave their hives? In the end, when we are sick, we want to stay home. It turns out that some of these pests can cause disturbances in the behavior of bees.
It may happen that sick bees simply can not properly process information and do not know where their home is. In other words, the sick bee may have flown out of the hive and just forgot where it is.
If enough bees in the colony can not find their way home, the colony will soon cease to exist. By their very nature, even healthy bees can not live on their own for a long time. And with the disappearance of bees in danger will be plants pollinated by bees.
Another reason for the disappearance of bees may be related to chemicals that farmers use to control insect pests. As a result of the studies, an insecticide was found that has a negative effect on the nervous system of the honey bee, on the brain and memory. Another interesting observation related to the behavior of insects, which often use empty hives to grow their offspring. Usually they immediately occupy an empty hive, but now they do not rush to do it. Probably there is something in the hive that repels not only the bees themselves, but also other insects. So far, scientists have not figured out what it is.
If it turns out that the disease caused the disappearance of bees, then the genes of bees can help explain why some colonies disappeared, while others do not. Any group of bees, as well as animals and humans, have many different genes, since each individual has its own unique set of genes. The more different genes in the group, the greater the genetic diversity of the group. And genetic diversity is very important when it comes to survival.
Now scientists are studying the genetic diversity in the colonies of honey bees, in order to understand whether it affects the disappearance of bees and the decay of the colony. If the colony is genetically diverse, the likelihood that it will be completely destroyed as a result of the disease or infection is reduced, since at least a part of the bees in a genetically diverse group are likely to have genes that will help them resist a certain disease that struck colony. Currently, scientists conduct genetic tests on bees. The purpose of the tests is to find out whether there are genetic differences between the bees that disappear and those that remain in the hives.
Scientists are working hard to establish the causes of the disappearance of bees. Meanwhile, the bees continue to disappear. Is there anything you can do to help them survive? Some believe that to save bees, more people should be engaged in breeding bees.