Nature's most valuable workers mysteriously vanishing out of thin air
What is devastating the world's honeybees?
In what appears to be a honeybee mystery of Armageddon proportions that has baffled scientists and beekeepers, more than one-third of the nation's commercial honeybee population is mysteriously disappearing – and researchers warn the unexplained phenomenon threatens one-third of the American diet.
Entire colonies of honeybees are abandoning hives and food stores, including honey and pollen. In collapsed colonies, adult bees mysteriously disappear, and there is no accumulation of dead bees. Even hive pests such as wax moths and hive beetles are nowhere to be found around affected colonies. Likewise, other honeybees are reluctant or unwilling to rob the abandoned hives of honey.
Only days before a honeybee colony collapses, according to Bee Culture Magazine, the colony appears to be strong and fully functional.
Then, it explains, the affliction travels like a wave through a beeyard.