Researchers May Have Found the Cure for Dying Honey Bees
Researchers in Spain believe they have isolated the cause of Colony Collapse Disorder, a mysterious ailment that's been wiping out honey bee colonies since 2006. And more importantly, they also think they've found the cure.
Researchers in Spain may have found the cause and the cure for Colony Collapse Disorder in honey bees.
Photo: Whitney Cranshaw, Colorado State University, Bugwood.org
For the first time, scientists identified a lone parasite - Nosema ceranae - as the cause of bee declines at two professional apiaries. They found none of the other suspected causes of CCD at these apiaries - just the Nosema ceranae infection. Nosema ceranae is a strain of microsporidia, single-celled organisms which produce spores. About 1,200 of the known 15,000 microsporidia strains in existence cause diseases in insects.
The scientists treated the remaining bees from infected colonies with the antibiotic flumagillin, and reported a complete recovery of those hives.
The loss of honey bees would have drastic worldwide consequences for agriculture and the economy. This breakthrough may be the answer to reversing honey bee declines in the U.S. and Europe.
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This is WONDERFUL news! Tell me more – do they know where this parasite came from and why it suddenly began to attack honeybees to such a devastating degree?
It does seem like a breakthrough in combating CCD. Nosema has been around for a while, but this is a new strain. Being able to isolate the new Nosema strain as the single variable linked to bee deaths in two professional apiaries is a significant step toward stopping the bee decline.
Well Done! Those Researchers in Spain may well have contributed more to the peoples of the world than all the G-20 polititians pumping money into Banks. The World may be saved.
Woo Hoo!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Mark my word – they didn’t ‘cure’ it. A new bug will erupt in its place, or this one will become resistant to the antibiotic, kind of like MRSA. Why? Listen to B. Blake Levitt’s ‘What’s Happening in Nature?’ The bats in the Northeast are dying in huge numbers, too. Scientists are making a big mistake by thinking these events are unrelated.
http://electromagnetichealth.org/audio-archives-and-more/#patients
I am just relieved that atleast there are scientists out there that actually are trying. It is very clear that here in America none of our “great” minds do not share the same ideas. Our country also contributes greatly to bees dying because we pollute more than any other country. We use tons of chemicals to ward of bugs each year which is adding to the number of bees being killed here as well. I believe very strongly that everyone needs to contribute to nature by growing “nutrient” rich plants that help sustain bees and also by using other means to ward off unwanted pests in their gardens by going organic.