Colony Collapse Disorder (CCD) is the name given to the recent phenomenon of disappearing worker bees in North America. There are several signs that a hive might have been affected by CCD. While the queen bee and food stores are still present in the hive, there are few to no adult bees in the colony and no dead bees in the hive. Scientists have not been able to pinpoint one cause for the strange disappearance of the bees. Possible reasons might be malnutrition, drought, disease, pesticides, and other environmental factors. These bees are important to the large-scale pollination of about $15 billion of crops in the United States, in addition to countless naturally-occurring plants. Many could be affected by the disappearance of honey bees, including: almonds, apples, raspberries, blackberries, watermelons, cucumbers, and many other common nuts, fruits, and vegetables.

While scientists and beekeepers are working hard to determine the causes of this strange phenomenon, there are ways you can help make the world a healthier and safer place for bees. Simple things like planting some wildflowers or limiting the use of pesticides in your yard can play a part in protecting the honey bee populations in your area.