Hundreds of dead bees?

Question

The last two days I've noticed bees dying around my house, even in my house, dying. Yesterday, when I went out to my mailbox I looked down to the ground and was shocked to see hundreds and hundreds of dead bees. They pretty much covered the floor. Some were still alive, among the dead ones, stuggling. I looked around for a beehive but didn't find one. Now I'm wondering, could it be a natural phenomenan, or did some idiot spray chemicals on my property.
Any input? Have you experienced the same?

Answer 1

There is a bee virus going around.....h

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/20612274/

Answer 2

There is something called Colony Collapse taking place throughout the USA and in other parts of the world. Hives are simply found abandoned, or with only the queen remaining. Bees who become sick typically don't return to the hive. They sacrifice themselves for the good of the colony. Scientists have searched for a bacteria or virus, and discovered bees in the USA to carry many viruses. That was found testing their DNA. Other changes seen is bees "swarming" to unusual locations: houses, public restrooms, automobiles.

You might collect a few in a jar and try contacting some conservation officials or university people to see if they want them. The worry is that the human food chain is almost completely dependent on bees. Without them, it's in question whether humans would survive. You bees might be an important clue.

Answer 3

Eric's quite right, it's a rather strange phenomenon. It's been named CCD (Colony Collapse Disorder). In which the bees lose their sense of orientation and can't return to the hive. Scientists are currently looking for an answer to it.

It's also a little worrying, since bees are in tune with the world's polarity. It's predicted that that this (The global polarity) will flip around the year 2012.

Answer 4

bees and other pollentating bugs have been mysteriously dying lately, personally i doubt that many bees would have died at the same time in the same place unless they had been sprayed but hey, it wouldnt be the first time i was wrong. and the comment about honey being over rated...bees do a lot more than just make honey, if they disappear it will throw off our whole eco system.

Answer 5

The bees and other flying helpers (like butterflies, ladybugs and such) are all dying - the theories range from pesticides in the plants to a virus, maybe it is natural selection but it is very disconcerting. Without the "good bugs" we are in a world of hurt - less pollinators mean less food and less of them means more of the "bad bugs" like aphids and such. Entomologists are stumped and there are a ton of articles but no real answers.

Answer 6

There has been a rash of bees just dying out in the world of late... nobody's really sure what's causing it & it's got people on edge. (No bees means no critters to help pollenate the crops we're growing - which means, less food being produced)

I've got some friends who're bee-keepers & they've come out & found empty hives ... no corpses... no nothing... just the whole swarm took off & disappeared. You may have found one of 'em lost swarms.

Answer 7

I'd call the Environmental Protection Agency. If they are honey bees, they are a protected species. The agency needs to know what is killing our honey bees.

Answer 8

how is the weather there? was there a sudden cold spell? anything else unusual?