Honey bees have long been a buzzing familiarity in back yards across the United States. And while even children can tell you the basics about honey bees: the hive, the queen, the honey comb, most people do not know the significance of the bee, or the present crisis that honey bees colonies are experiencing in the U.S. today.

Honey bees are very busy insects that thrive in the complex structure of a hive community. The workers are all female, and are about 3/4 an inch in length. The males, called drones, are slightly larger in size. The largest bee in the hive is the queen. She is the only female who can mate with the drones, and her primary responsibility is to lay eggs. Honey bees live in hives that populate up to 80,000 bees. They eat nectar and pollen; the honey they produce is food for bee larvae.

According to the United States Department of Agriculture, "One in three mouthfuls benefit from bee pollination." Many foods like almonds, berries, fruits, and vegetables rely on bee pollination to flourish. But beginning in 2006, beekeepers reported a 30-90 percent loss in their hives. This loss, generally known as Colony Collapse Disorder, is could drastically affect the bee pollination industry if it becomes more widespread.

Though the direct cause of CCD is unknown, according to the USDA, it is thought to be contributing factors of pathogens, parasites, environmental stresses and bee management stresses. One virus, the Israeli acute paralysis virus (IAPV) was found in 96 percent of CCD hives, but researchers are still unsure if this virus could be causing CCD.

Because of the still unknown cause of CCD, beekeepers are working primarily on better health and environment of the bees they care for. In terms of public involvement, the best way you can help honey bees stay healthy is to not use pesticides mid-day, when bees are traveling most often among plants and when using pesticides, practice caution and moderation. Also, planting red clover and bee balm helps the bees keep a healthy supply of nectar.

Want to learn more? Check out these links to find out more about CCD and honey bee life:

http://www.ars.usda.gov/News/docs.htm?docid=15572

http://www.fcps.edu/islandcreekes/ecology/honey_bee.htm

http://www.gpnc.org/honeybee.htm