Parasitic Fly May Be a Factor In Honeybee Decline, New Study Says

U.S. scientists say a parasitic fly may be a factor in the mysterious “colony collapse disorder” that has caused a decline in honeybee populations worldwide. In a study published in the journal PLoS ONE, researchers at the University of San Francisco suggest that the fly, Apocephalus borealis, lays its eggs in the abdomens of bees, causing the “zombie-like” bees to abandon their hives and congregate near bright lights. Within days, the newly hatched larvae push their way out, killing the bees. Earlier studies suggest hive abandonment is a primary feature of so-called colony collapse disorder. While honeybee numbers have been declining for decades, the rate has been accelerating, with U.S. populations plummeting 35 percent between 2006 and 2009 and die-offs occurring in Europe, China, and Japan. Scientists have cited numerous possible causes, including a decline in flowering plants, increased use of insecticides, bee-killing mites, and air pollution.