Stressed young bees could be cause of colony declines, scientists find

[inanna]

Source: Press Association

Bees having to forage younger because older workers have been killed off by disease could be key factor behind colony collapse disorder

Tuesday 10 February 2015 09.28 GMT

Stressed young bees that are forced to grow up too fast could largely account for disastrous declines in populations of the insects around the world, research suggests.

Bees usually begin foraging at two to three weeks old but when older workers are killed off by disease, lack of food or other factors they have to start younger.

Scientists who attached radio tracking devices to thousands of bees found that early-starters completed fewer foraging flights and were more likely to die on their first sortie.

The phenomenon may be a key factor behind colony collapse disorder (CCD), a major threat to bee colonies – and crop pollination – around the world whose origins are still not fully understood.



Read more: http://www.theguardian.com/environment/2015/feb/10/stressed-young-bees-could-be-cause-of-colony-declines-scientists-find

[In_The_Wind]

1. Very sad news. We need healthy bees!

[dmosh42]

2. Seems to be missing why the older bees died off. With many scientist not willing to put...

the insecticide companies on the spot, we may never know until it's too late.

[Orrex]

3. They're probably spending too much time on their smartphones.

[blkmusclmachine]

4. Bees pulling themselves up by their bootstraps...