Colony Collapse Disorder (CCD) was the main topic of interest at the American Beekeeping Federation's first-ever National Beekeeping Conference, January 8-12 in Sacramento, California. Beekeepers exchanged stories of CCD decimating their hives, and scientists assured beekeepers that finding the cause of CCD is a top priority.

Best of all, before the conference was held a team of scientists led by researchers at Penn State University reported the search for the cause of CCD may be over. They have linked Israeli Acute Paralysis Virus (IAPV) to the vast majority of destroyed hives.

Rest of the article here: The Bees Knees.

Good article! Notice that in the 1980ties some concern was shown in Canada about the clouds of white spray used for mosquitoes by trucks, that sprayed at night-seemed this stuff killed the mosquitoes, but unfortunaely some compained just about everything else too-some people became ill!

Malathion, was it? Can't recall. They still spray here. Not sure if it is with the same chemical. Because of West Nile and Avian Bird flu. My cousin and his wife contracted West Nile. 3 years after the proper diagnosis and treatment they still aren't back to 100%. As a guess, I think they contracted a more serious strain, from the sounds of it. The wife was in bed for quite a while. (Without company, I'm assuming. )

While I don't keep Bees, I have a couple of friends that do. And this is a interest of mine. Nice article!

Yes t_b, Malathion was the stuff ... did some work in your hometown on that chemical, and the effects it had on crops/bees/birds, and people ... along with knocking off the little night time vampires, and other bad guys. The library downtown, and the University, UW had some research about this chemical, that in turn, was used for some work (food production/transportation/consumption) that I did in this area of Canada. Same stuff unfortunately used in LA, would take the paint off the cars-was not convinced that it was safe-still not. Still, some bad stuff out and about, e.g., West Nile, and animal 'generated' illiness/horses. Hope the bee sistuation is soon controlled, and that some positive results will come about quickly.

Guess I didn't know they were gone. They are abundant in my garage in the summer.

bull - how much do you want for these bees? Garage bees are very sophisticated, and only pick out quality garages for safety and survial-maybe, cold ones too!

The neighbors garage right behind us, has had a Colony of Carpenter Bees for the last 18 years, that we know of. They don't bother us at all, an occasional fly by when I mow the lawn is about the extent of their aggression. Supposodly only the females sting, but my vision isn't that good

Aren't pink and blue bands still the norm for separating them?

Just look for the ones with the six tits Ray and you'll be fine. No tits, no sting.