The Buzz on Bees

Scientists may have solved the mystery of the honeybee disappearance

JANUARY 20, 2012

By TIME For Kids Staff

For several years, honeybees across the U.S. have been dying at high rates. The bees are flying away from their hives and never returning. Concerned scientists have been trying to figure out what is wrong. They thought a combination of problems might be causing entire beehives, or colonies, to disappear. They called it "colony collapse disorder." Now, researchers at San Francisco State University have found a new possible cause for the disorder: a parasitic fly.

"The parasite could be another stressor, enough to push the bee over a tipping point. Or it could play a primary role in causing the disease," says researcher John Hafernik.

The fly latches onto a honeybee, depositing eggs into the bee's abdomen. The eggs hatch into worms, which grow inside the bee. The bee begins to act strangely. It leaves the hive, flying in circles or blindly toward light. The bee soon dies.

Since 2006, 30% of colonies have been lost to colony collapse disorder. That is a problem for people as well as for bees. Bees are hardworking insects. They help us grow the food we eat. They fly from flower to flower, pollinating about a third of the U.S. food supply. Scientists are continuing to look for ways to help honeybees bounce back.

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