On 5 January 2008, a fellow beekeeper experienced classic CCD 
symptoms in one his hives near Hartshorne, Oklahoma.  The hive was 
light on stores but did have some open nectar and capped honey.

In November 2007, the hive had two deep hivebodies filled with bees; 
but, on 5 January 2008, the hive had a handful bees with a queen, a 
small dead patch of capped brood and frames of nectar and capped 
honey.  However, hundreds of the disappearing bees were found nearby 
crawling on the ground unable to fly appearing as though they were in 
a drunken stupor after feeding on fermented persimmon fruit littering 
the area.   Also, bees were observed actively feeding on the 
fermented persimmon fruit.  The temperature range on Saturday and 
Sunday, 5 and 6 January, was about 58 F. low and 75 F. high, for both days.

Common persimmon, Diospyros virginiana L., is wide spread throughout 
the US.  I've personally observed persimmon thickets in excess of 
five acres in Oklahoma; and, I suspect other States also have large 
groves of persimmon trees.  http://plants.usda.gov/java/profile?symbol=DIVI5

When weather conditions are favorable for fermenting unharvested 
overripe fruit, could bees feeding on such fermented fruit, 
particularly persimmons, be the culprit causing CCD and other so 
called dwindling disease episodes?

Also, could fruit processing plants or orchard operations within 
flight range of apiary holding yards play a role in causing CCD by 
discarding fruit which is fermented or later becomes fermented?

Jim Young, Retired Entomologist 

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