Using Instrumental Insemination to Fight Colony Collapse of Honey Bees
What Is Colony Collapse • Colony collapse disorder (CCD) is a phenomenon in which worker bees from a European honey bee colony abruptly disappear. • While such disappearances have occurred throughout the history of apiculture, and were known by various names o Disappearing disease o Spring dwindle o May disease o Autumn collapse o and fall dwindle disease), • The syndrome was renamed colony collapse disorder in late 2006 in conjunction with a drastic rise in the number of disappearances of western honey bee colonies in North America. • Colony collapse disorder is significant economically because many agricultural crops worldwide are pollinated by European honey bees.

• According to the Agriculture and Consumer Protection Department of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, the worth of global crops with honeybee’s pollination was estimated to be close to $200 billion in 2005.

Honey Bee and Colony Design • In each colony the three different types of bees each have the same basic structure. • Worker Bees are sterile females responsible for maintaining the health and sanitation of the hive. • Clean and maintain cells and hive – Remove dead – Dispatch and/or expel excess drones after breeding – Fan the beehive to regulate temperature – Build new wax comb • Caretakers – Nurse young bees, care for Queen, feed Drones and guard hive. – Decide which larvae will be new queens. • Become field bees – Collect nectar and pollen to make honey
Possible Causes for Colony Collapse • The mechanisms of CCD and the reasons for its increasing prevalence remain