Spring Dwindle Disease Research Paper

Although this is not a new disorder, previously called spring dwindle disease, autumn collapse or disappearing disease, there have been higher-than-usual reports of colony loss since the fall and winter of 2006 with signs similar to those of colony collapse disorder. The symptoms include the dwindling and insufficient numbers of worker bees with few or no dead bees around the colony, the presence of bee brood (bee larvae), the presence of food, pollen and honey deposits that are not immediately stolen by other bees or pests (or is noticeably delayed), and the presence of a queen bee. This is a seemingly spontaneous disease, but there is much speculation about the actual cause for this strange and deadly behavior. The theories range from pesticides,
fungi, mites, poor quality queens, immunodeficiency, pathogens, or bee keeping practices such as transportation or anti-biotics, but the current consensus is that there isn't just one factor, but rather a combination of them. A recent theory seems to be blaming the collapses on a newer class of insecticide called neonicotinoids. These chemicals are used to control a variety of sap-feeding insects by affecting the central nervous system and causing paralysis and death. This class of insecticides doesn’t just stay on the surface of the plant, rather it is absorbed by the roots and transported to the leaves, flowers, roots, stems, pollen, nectar, etc. and remains effective for multiple weeks. Although there is a lower risk of death by direct contact or by ingestion, the real risk with these chemicals for bees comes with the higher levels of toxins in the pollen and nectar. It is possible for these elevated levels to result in the deterioration of the bee's health by disrupting their foraging instinct, communication, homing ability and larval development.