# Scientific American reports on disappearing bees **URL:** \ **Category:** Cecil's Columns/Staff Reports\ **Created:** [April 7, 2009, 11:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/scientific-american-reports-on-disappearing-bees/492324 "2009-04-07T23:37:28Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 6\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Yllaria](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/yllaria/32/3452_2.png) [@Yllaria](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Yllaria)\ **Post date:** [April 7, 2009, 11:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/scientific-american-reports-on-disappearing-bees/492324/1 "2009-04-07T23:37:28Z")
The current Scientific American online update has an [article](http://www.sciam.com/article.cfm?id=saving-the-honeybee) about Colony Collapse Disorder, or CCD, which has been the subject of a previous [staff report](http://www.straightdope.com/columns/read/2823/why-are-the-bees-disappearing) by **Doug**. Doug had concluded that: > [@](#): > > About the only new information out there is growing evidence that the bee disease called Israel Acute Paralysis Virus may play an important role in CCD but isn’t the sole factor. The Sci Am article, “Solving the Mystery of the Vanishing Bees” By Diana Cox-Foster and Dennis vanEngelsdorp details studies done since 2006, searching for the cause of CCD. As had been reported in the staff report, they found several possible contributing factors and a possible smoking gun. > [@](#): > > But one bee virus stood out, as it had never been identified in the U.S.: the Israeli acute paralysis virus, or IAPV. So we heard it here first. The article is worth a read because it details the history of the search for the cause and explains some of the tests and experiments that were run, which is interesting. At the end, when they were listing things that beekeepers could do to lessen the odds of CCD, it mentioned that treating old hives with gamma rays before reusing them was a good way to prevent the disease. As I read that, I could have sworn that I heard a tiny, squeeky voice say Hulk Smash! ---
**Author:** ![Bluffcityguy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ebca7d/32.png) [@Bluffcityguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bluffcityguy)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2009, 10:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/scientific-american-reports-on-disappearing-bees/492324/2 "2009-04-08T10:17:24Z")
> [@Yllaria](#): > > At the end, when they were listing things that beekeepers could do to lessen the odds of CCD, it mentioned that treating old hives with gamma rays before reusing them was a good way to prevent the disease. As I read that, I could have sworn that I heard a tiny, squeeky voice say Hulk Smash! Oh great… As if Africanized “killer bees” isn’t enough, now we have to contend with The Savage Bee-Hulk. Cheers, bcg ---
**Author:** ![Irishman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/b487fb/32.png) [@Irishman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Irishman)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2009, 3:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/scientific-american-reports-on-disappearing-bees/492324/3 "2009-04-08T15:46:13Z")
Hmmm. The authors of that article include Diana Cox-Foster, citing studies dating back to 2006. Doug’s update from Nov 2008 that mentions IAPV says > [@](#): > > According to Diana Cox-Foster, a leading researcher on the phenomenon known as colony collapse disorder whom I met and talked with a few weeks ago,… In other words, Doug passed along the info from the same person who published the SciAm article. So I don’t know what you think the big deal is. Though the article may be worth a read. ---
**Author:** ![Fear\_Itself](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fear_itself/32/19637_2.png) [@Fear\_Itself](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fear_Itself)\ **Post date:** [April 9, 2009, 12:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/scientific-american-reports-on-disappearing-bees/492324/4 "2009-04-09T12:39:35Z")
> [@](#): > > About the only new information out there is growing evidence that the bee disease called Israel Acute Paralysis Virus may play an important role in CCD but isn’t the sole factor. When all else fails, blame the Jews. ---
**Author:** ![ivan\_astikov](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/58f4c7/32.png) [@ivan\_astikov](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ivan_astikov)\ **Post date:** [April 9, 2009, 12:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/scientific-american-reports-on-disappearing-bees/492324/5 "2009-04-09T12:49:02Z")
> [@Fear\_Itself](#): > > When all else fails, blame the Jews. Yeah, well they brought it on themselves, the whinging bastards! “We are the chosen ones” this, and “Oh woes, we’re being persecuted” that… just fucking drop it, will you? ---
**Author:** ![Ludovic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7ab992/32.png) [@Ludovic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ludovic)\ **Post date:** [April 9, 2009, 1:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/scientific-american-reports-on-disappearing-bees/492324/6 "2009-04-09T13:13:40Z")
From now on, Israel shall be known as the Land of Milk.