Colony Collapse Disorder (CCD)

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Honey Bee Colony Collapsing Disorder (CCD)

During the fall of 2006 to early 2007 a large number of honey bee colony deaths were reported across the continental United States.  Investigations suggested that outbreaks of unexplained colony deaths have been ongoing for at least the last two years, i.e. beginning in 2004.  Historical reports of similar colony losses are well documented in beekeeping literature, with similar outbreaks possibly occurring as long ago as 1896.   The current phenomenon, without a predominant and singular recognizable cause has been cautiously termed “Colony Collapse Disorder” (CCD) and is not meant to suggest that colonies are dying due to a novel agent.  Nevertheless colony losses are extreme in some cases such that it represents a significant threat to the pollination industry and the commercial production of honey in the United States. 

Initial studies of dying bee colonies has revealed a large number of disease organisms present, with most being “stress related” diseases, but without any one disease as a singular causal agent of colony deaths. The magnitude of detected infectious organism in the adult bees may suggest some type of immunosuppressant or that colonies are overwhelmed by the multitude of pathogenic organisms.  Case studies and questionnaires related to management practices and environmental factors have identified a few common factors shared by those beekeepers experiencing CCD.  However, no common environmental agents or chemicals were identified by these surveys.  The search for underlying causes has been narrowed by the preliminary studies, but key questions remain unanswered.

CCD symptoms and beekeeper actions on suspicion of CCD are outlined below.

  1. In collapsed colonies (dead colonies):
    1. The complete absence of adult bees in colonies with no or little build-up of dead bees in the colonies or in front of those colonies.
    2. The presence of capped (sealed) brood in colonies
    3. The presence of food stores both honey and bee bread (pollen)
      1. Which is not robbed by other bees
      2. When attacked by hive pests such as wax moth and small hive beetle, the attack is noticeably delayed.
  2. In cases where the colony appears to be actively collapsing (dying):
    1. An insufficient workforce to maintain the brood that is present.
    2. The workforce seems to be made up of young adult bees.
    3. The queen is present.
    4. The cluster is reluctant to consume provided feed, such as sugar syrup and protein supplement

Beekeeper Actions on Suspicion of Colony Collapse Disorder

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