Reuters: Researchers seek causes of honeybee colony collapse
(Reuters) - Birds do it, fleas do it but when bees do it, the value is $212 billion to the world economy.
That's why scientists are seeking a way to stem mass deaths of the world's primary pollinator -- the honeybee -- which affect more than 30 percent of bee colonies in the United States and more than 20 percent in some European countries.
Researchers have identified some probable causes of colony collapse disorder (CCD), including blood-feeding parasites, bee viruses, fungi, pesticide exposure and decreased plant diversity causing poor nutrition for honeybees, experts say...
http://www.reuters.com/article/2011/03/05/us-honeybee-deaths-idUSTRE7242C220110305