Hello All,
I was asked for my veiws on CCD today by a reporter from a large circulation
newspaper. I tried to provide the latest information.

Especially the news about the USDA-ARS Florida 400 hive experiment published
in the "catch the buzz" newsletter.

Hopefully the reporter will get it right.

 What has been found in CCD samples:
I thought I would put in our archives . The below is word for word. No
wonder the exact cause can not be found!

From the Congressional Research Service Report to Congress:
March 26th 2007 (page 8)
" HIGH levels of bacteria, viruses, and fungi have been found in the guts of
the recoverable dead bees"

CCD report Dec.15th,2006
Not all samples had these things but these things were found in the CCD
samples looked at:

1. crystal-like formations were observed in the thorax where muscles are
located

2. Malpighian tubules were found to be swollen and discolored

3. Pyloris scarring was evident in between 0%-45% of the samples examined

4.PA cursory examination of the gut reveled many pollen grains of unknown
origin. The pollen grains seemed largely intact and many did not appear
digested

5.ALL PA samples were found to have nosema spores in their rectal contents

6.The sting gland of many examined bees were obviously scarred with distinct
black "marks".( H. melanois and B melanosis depending on the casual agents)

7.In addition to their sting glands, evidence of melanosis was found in the
ovariies of infected queens

8. distinct debris clumps in the tracheal network examined in the abdomen of
bees.Mycelium was observed growing from a tracheal branch into the larger
tracheal trunk

9.Other potential fungal mycelium was observed in other tissues such as the
sting gland ,the body wall ,etc.

10.dead brood from Georgia had both chalkbrood & stonebrood

11.analyses were done on five queens and five workers from the living
colonies that were declining in the PA operation. These samples reveled
extensive viral and fungal co-infection, with all bees being infected by
DWV, nearly all infected by BQCV,a significate number having KBV,some SBV,
and almost all having chalkbrood infection.

Sincerely,
Bob Harrison





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