In my previous article on Colony Collapse Disorder (CCD) in honeybees, I summarized recent advances in our understanding of this malady which has arisen in recent years, leading to major declines in honeybee colonies throughout North America. The current consensus is that CCD is caused by a synergistic combination of internal (diseases, parasites) and extrinsic […]
Cry Havoc and Let Slip the Bugs of War
Throughout history, insects have frequently played a direct role in human events, especially during times of war. The Egyptian general Horembeb of the XII Egyptian Dynasty was almost bested in his battles with the Hittites because of a plague that was so severe that the battle ceased and his troops fled into the mountains and […]
It Takes Two to Tango… or Does It? The Curious Courtship of Collembola (Springtails)
Collembola, also known as springtails, are tiny terrestrial hexapods once considered primitive, wingless insects (based on the fact that they too have six legs, just like insects), but are now known to be distinct from true insects. Most species live in loose surface soil and leaf litter where they feed on decaying organic material. Despite […]
Where Have All The Bees Gone?
In the past 5 years, much attention has been devoted to the topic of Colony Collapse Disorder (CCD), a mysterious ailment that first appeared in 2006, affecting European honeybee colonies in the United States and Europe. This disorder manifests as a sudden sharp decline (30-90%) in the number of worker bees in the colony as […]