stress and surviving within their hives on food stored in the previous spring through
fall seasons. Close proximity in hives promotes infestation, and because the bees are
weakened by the mites, they are also less likely to fend off other infectious diseases.
This compounded scenario of stressors is one of the primary variables believed to be
responsible for CCD [71].
Chemical treatments, such as fluvalinate, have proven to be mostly successful, but
a small percent of surviving mites after treatment become resistant and eventually
immune. Treatments are still being developed. A number of other countermeasures
may be used, whether chemical, physical, or behavioral, but the mite threat continues.
4.2.7 Disease
Honey bee colonies are also prone to a number of viruses and bacteria that thrive in
the close quarters of the hive. There are numerous viruses, some of which are
associated closely with Varroa mite infestation, and some bacterial infection that
can produce significant rapid losses [72]. Any of these diseases can be associated
with CCD as a compounding variable.
1. Bacterial
• American foulbrood
• European foulbrood
2. Fungal
• Chalkbrood
• Stonebrood
3. Viral
• Cripaviridae
• Dicistroviridae
• Cloudy wing virus
• Sacbrood virus
• Iflaviridae
• Iridoviridae
• Secoviridae
• Lake Sinai virus
While honey bee colonies most obviously suffer the consequences of infestation
and infection due to the physical proximity of their members, new research suggests
that managed bee services introduce parasites and disease to local wild populations
when high concentrations of such services are imported to new areas. These alien
stressors upon the local pollinator populations are associated with both declines and
extinctions, a problem which must be addressed with some urgency because merely
compensating with more managed bees is not a sustainable answer [73].
26
C. Li
fall seasons. Close proximity in hives promotes infestation, and because the bees are
weakened by the mites, they are also less likely to fend off other infectious diseases.
This compounded scenario of stressors is one of the primary variables believed to be
responsible for CCD [71].
Chemical treatments, such as fluvalinate, have proven to be mostly successful, but
a small percent of surviving mites after treatment become resistant and eventually
immune. Treatments are still being developed. A number of other countermeasures
may be used, whether chemical, physical, or behavioral, but the mite threat continues.
4.2.7 Disease
Honey bee colonies are also prone to a number of viruses and bacteria that thrive in
the close quarters of the hive. There are numerous viruses, some of which are
associated closely with Varroa mite infestation, and some bacterial infection that
can produce significant rapid losses [72]. Any of these diseases can be associated
with CCD as a compounding variable.
1. Bacterial
• American foulbrood
• European foulbrood
2. Fungal
• Chalkbrood
• Stonebrood
3. Viral
• Cripaviridae
• Dicistroviridae
• Cloudy wing virus
• Sacbrood virus
• Iflaviridae
• Iridoviridae
• Secoviridae
• Lake Sinai virus
While honey bee colonies most obviously suffer the consequences of infestation
and infection due to the physical proximity of their members, new research suggests
that managed bee services introduce parasites and disease to local wild populations
when high concentrations of such services are imported to new areas. These alien
stressors upon the local pollinator populations are associated with both declines and
extinctions, a problem which must be addressed with some urgency because merely
compensating with more managed bees is not a sustainable answer [73].
26
C. Li