World Report: September 21, 2007 Vol. #13 Iss. #4
- This Issue:
- Table of Contents
- Cover Story
- Cover Story - Spanish Version
- Mini-Lesson
- Comprehension Quiz
- Teacher's Guide and Worksheets
Clue to a Mystery
Scientists may have discovered what's taking the buzz out of the nation's honeybees (see "Bad News for Bees," 3/16/07). Earlier this month, researchers identified a virus that may be a factor in the disappearance of billions of honeybees.
Since 2004, honeybees in up to 90% of commercial beehives in the United States have died. Experts call the mysterious phenomenon "colony collapse disorder" (CCD). Farmers and beekeepers worry that CCD could affect crops that depend on bees for pollination.
The virus was first discovered in Israel in 2002. It may have entered the U.S. by way of Australia. Beekeepers began importing Australian bees at about the same time that CCD appeared.
The virus offers only one possible explanation for CCD. Experts continue to explore others. Some believe that bees are suffering from stress. Beekeepers transport billions of bees around the nation so they can pollinate crops. Overworked bees might be more vulnerable to illnesses and parasites. Other possibilities are that honeybees are reacting to harmful pesticides or changes in the weather.
Still, scientists feel hopeful that identifying the virus could lead to answers. "At least we have a lead now (that) we can begin to follow," says W. Ian Lipkin, one of the scientists who announced the findings.
