Colony Collapse Disease

"High annual losses of honey bees, as well as range reductions and local extinctions of wild and native pollinator species, are concerning because bees are important plant pollinators" (Brutscher, McMenamin, and Flenniken 1). Thousands of people don’t understand the importance of bees. The bee species are in serious trouble. There are new diagnostics on the importance of the bees, so we must come up with ways to save them and also have information as to why they are dying.
“Pollinators are vital to wildlife and ecosystem health, but they also have extraordinary economic importance to American culture” (Dolesh 42). Pollinators, such as bees, spend their time pollinating most of the crops in our society. It’s not a surprise that many people don’t
EPA presents the Colony Collapse Disorder, which is believed to be affecting the lives of the bees (1). “Colony Collapse Disorder is the phenomenon that occurs when the majority of worker bees in a colony disappear and leave behind a queen, plenty of food, and a few nurse bees to care for the remaining immature bees and the queen” (EPA 1). The Environmental Protection Agency explains how the disappearance of the worker bees leads to the high decrease in hives, which are crucial to their survival. (1) Staff proposes a different theory; the bee struggles to survive in a habitat broken apart by increased farming and commercial development (1). Brutscher, McMenamin, and Flenniken suggests that some viruses could be having a negative influence on the life of the bees (2). “Colony level studies have associated virus (i.e., IAPV, KBV, ABPV, DWV, and LSV2) abundance with CCD-affected or weak colonies” (Brutscher, McMenamin, and Flenniken 2) “The Buzz about Honey Bee Viruses” presents unique information on viruses, colony collapse disorder, and antiviral defense (1-3). There are many causes that are having an effect on the bees, but there are also many solutions that are being presented in order to keep the life our
Fish and Wildlife Services are coming up with the idea of putting the bee on the endangered list in order to grant the bee more protection and save it from extinction (Staff). Bees being put on the endangered list might just push people to do something about the situation. In, “Could putting a bumble bee on the endangered list saved it?” West Williams Staff, describes how the government will seek for solutions in order to protect the bees (Staff). Staff mentions that if the bee gains protected status, the government may begin looking into expanding habitats for the bee, planting flowers in an effort to expand and connect the fragmented bee populations (2). “Virtually every expert consulted for this article spoke to the pivotal role of parks in producing real-life solutions that will help solve the challenges facing pollinators” (Dolesh 43). There are quite a few solutions to save the bees, but people need to acknowledge the problem and cooperate in order to change the destination of the bees.
Some committees are already trying to make a difference. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) presented an article where they mentioned that the Steering Committee had developed the Colony Collapse Disorder Action Plan. (1) EPA is currently helping advance research investigating pesticide effects on pollinators (3). Bees are important and their life is crucial to the well-being of others so we must save