Folks,

I’m taking a brief break here from my energy journalism to post this story about a subject that has been popping up on my radar pretty frequently lately: the mysterious disappearances of bees, all around the world. In addition to the news clip below, see these:

If anybody out there has additional info on this story, please send it to me.

–C

Excerpted from Solar Living Institute Newsletter, Vol. V, No. 3 — March 13, 2007

U.S. honeybees are suffering from “colony collapse
disorder.” Beekeepers in 24 states say these
essential pollinators are simply disappearing, with
losses of 30% to 60% on the West Coast and, in
some cases, more than 70% on the East Coast and
in Texas. “I have never seen anything like it,” says
California keeper David Bradshaw. “Box after box after
box are just empty.” Perplexed scientists are testing
theories including stress, toxins, and viruses. It’s not
the first time bees have met a mystery fate, “but it’s
never been on a scale like this,” says bee specialist
Dennis van Engelsdorp. With bees pollinating more
than $14 billion of U.S. seeds and crops a year —
every third bite we eat, according to industry buzz —
those with full hives stand to benefit. “It’s supply and
demand,” says a keeper who expects to earn
$520,000 for a month in California’s almond orchards.

For more information:

• “Honeybees Vanish,
  Leaving Keepers in Peril,” The New York
  Times, Feb. 27, 2007
• “Bee colony
  collapse mystery studied,” Pittsburgh Post-
  Gazette, Feb. 25, 2007
• “Fewer bees to pollinate
  more state almond acres means windfall for
  keepers,” The San Diego Union-Tribune,
  Feb. 24, 2007
• “Honeybee Disappearance
  Puzzles Scientists,” PBS News Hour, April
  3, 2007