Honeybees are in danger worldwide. Their homes -- known as “colonies” -- are suffering from what scientists call Colony Collapse Disorder. Scientists have linked the disorder to infections from harmful microorganisms and pesticides -- products meant to kill other insects. Researchers also have blamed a sharp drop in the honeybee population to loss of the bees’ natural habitat. Polish researchers are working on ways to save honeybees. One of the diseases that affect honeybee colonies in Poland is nosemosis, also called nosema. It is a common fungi-based disease that affects adult bees. Aneta Ptaszynska is a researcher with Maria Curie-Sklodowska University. “Infected worker bees live for a very short time in the summer, about eight to 12 days, while they normally live 36 days. So the productivity of the whole bee family decreases and bees also have problems with passing (the) winter...” Scientists believe some pesticides weaken the bees’ natural resistance against disease.
