Guest guest Posted September 7, 2007 Report Share Posted September 7, 2007 Aust bees blamed for missing US colonies September 7, 2007 - 10:50AM Source: ABC It has being suggested that Australian bee exports to the United States could have contributed to the disappearance of billions of bees. Colonies have been vanishing en masse in the US, and a report published in the online edition of the Science magazine says the bees might have been struck by a virus unknowingly imported from Australia. The condition is known as colony collapse disorder. Live bees are a fast-growing export commodity from Australia to the US, particularly in response to disappearances. Australian bee-keepers sent more than 30,000 packages of bees to the US last summer, but the US Department of Agriculture is now considering a ban on imports. But Australia's honeybee industry has rejected the findings. Australian Honeybee Industry Association spokesman Stephen Ware says the report has unfairly jeopardised Australia's $5 million live export market. " We believe that it's un-scientific. The jury is still out on what causes colony collapse disorder or for that matter, whether there is such a thing as colony collapse disorder, " he said. " We're concerned that this report in the United States may be used by some as an excuse to prevent exports from Australia to the United States. " Mr Ware says the report is scientifically flawed. " We need to get the science on the table so that we can have a proper debate, a proper discussion and get to the bottom of exactly what is colony collapse disorder, " he said. " We've sent people to the United States, we are still unconvinced that it is a new disease and a new phenomenon in the bee population there. " Tasmanian Beekeepers Association spokesman Julian Wolfhagen believes commercial interests in the US are behind the claim. " I can't see any plausible reason why - particularly as Australia is comparatively disease-free, particularly when compared to the United States - we could have some malaise that we're not aware of, " he said. " We don't have any CCD [colony collapse disorder] symptoms here in Australia, why should it then pop up with our bees in the USA? Not likely. " http://www.bigpond.com/news/national/content/20070907/2026573.asp Intersting story. Lslie Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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