Colony Collapse Disorder

Colony Collapse Disorder (CCD) is a phenomenon where honeybee colonies abruptly lose most of their worker bees, leaving behind the queen, food, and a few nurse bees. This causes the hive to essentially die out. While the exact cause is unknown, factors such as pesticide exposure, habitat loss, pathogens, parasites like mites, and environmental stressors are believed to contribute. CCD threatens pollination services vital for many crops and wild plants. Researchers continue to study it to understand and mitigate the complex interactions leading to colony losses.