Bees and Colony Collapse Disorder

When one thinks of bees, one immediately thinks of honey, a food that has been used by humans since prehistoric times and that still plays a role, albeit minor, on our tables. Although there are hundreds of species of bees around the world, the one with commercial importance is the domesticated honey bee Apis mellifera of Eurasian and African origin. Honey aside, of far greater importance is the role of bees as pollinators, as a significant proportion of the plants we consume would simply not exist without bees to spread their pollen and fertilize them. Think of a world without almonds, peaches, or apples and a wide range of vegetables. Since 2007, the importance of honey bees has come under great scrutiny, as hives are ...