Colony Collapse Disorder  (1:54, 2007)

Bob Ellison USDA - Narrator

Honey bees are an important component in our food system. They pollinate around 130 different
types of crops. But bee are subject to various life threatening germs and pests. Lately, worker
honey bees have been disappearing and US Department of Agriculture researchers are puzzled.
The phenomenon is called Colony Collapse Disorder and USDA Agriculture Research Service
scientists in Beltsville, Maryland are studying the problem. 

Jay Evans - USDA Agricultural Research Service

"Colony Collapse Disorder was so named because we really don't know if it is a disease agent or
a pathogen as we have been used to seeing or something from the environment or nutrition of
bees or a combination of the above. Workers in the colonies tend to evacuate. Whether they are
dying in the field or simply absconding or leaving the nest we are not even sure."

Narrator

Evans calls colony collapse disorder a mystery that has turned ARS researchers into detectives. 
They are looking at suspects like genetics and chemicals, interviewing bee keepers for clues and
performing autopsies on honey bees. 

Jay Evans - USDA Agricultural Research Service

"So we are actively looking at causes for this, as are many other ARS labs and academic labs, 
trying to find out if it is a pathogenic cause or some sort of environmental affect, either a
chemical from the environment or the weather or nutrition, directly."

Narrator

"Evans says a devastated honey bee population would have a profound effect on US agriculture." 

Jay Evans - USDA Agricultural Research Service

"There would certainly be short term food shortages if bees were to disappear or to become
unable to fulfill their pollination and in the long term it would really represent the inability to
grow crops that many of us love and use to develop stronger nutrition like nut crops and fruits. 

Narrator

The value of US crops dependant on honey bee pollination is estimated at more than $15 billion.  

In Beltsville, Maryland for the US Department of Agriculture, I'm Bob Ellison.