Bees make honey, everyone knows that. But more often than not, everyone overlooks their other, more important function in the food chain: natural and effective pollinators of plants. If bees were not around to pollinate, the world would definitely be a hungrier place - and such is the reason why we should be scared that plants are bees are now currently being killed off. The details in the full article.

Researchers from UC San Francisco have finally found some solid evidence that points to a potential cause of the widespread Colony Collapse Disorder that is affecting bees in the U.S. And no, it's not mobile phones.

According to the LA Times, a single-celled parasite called Nosema ceranae has been found in affected hives from across the country. This fungus was responsible for widespread loss of bee colonies in Europe and Asia and may be playing a crucial role in the disappearance of bees in the U.S.

The fungus was also found in some hives where bees had survived. Two other fungi and half a dozen viruses have also been found in the dead bees.

Researchers have cautioned though that the results are still "highly preliminary" and are from only a few hives found in Le Grand in Merced County. "We don't want to give anybody the impression that this thing has been solved," said UCSF biochemist Joe DeRisi. Entomologist Diana Cox-Foster of Pennsylvania State University echoed DeRisi's caution, noting that by itself, N. ceranae "is probably not the culprit ... but it may be one of the key players."

Bee researchers haven't ruled out other factors such as pesticide exposure and inadequate food resources following a drought. "There are lots of stresses that these bees are experiencing," said Cox-Foster, noting that a combination of these factors could be responsible.

If the N. ceranae is found to play a role in CCD, there is still some hope for the bees, which are used to pollinate a third of the country's agricultural crops. There is evidence that the antibiotic fumagillin, used mainly against a closely related parasite called Nosema apis which also affects bees, will also work on N. ceranae.

They're tireless, they're noisy, and they're always in a bad mood. If you hate bees, whip out your mobile phone and start using it like mad. New studies show that the most potent weapon against bees may be your handset.

In recent years, scientists have documented a phenomenon known as CCD or Colony Collapse Disorder. This happens when a bee hive is abruptly abandoned by members of the swarm for reasons previously unknown. The disappearance of workers and drones leaves a hive defenseless against predators. The food supply is also cut, so if bears and rival hives don't finish off the queen, hunger will.

Scientists now have a theory that may help explain why CCD happens. They say that it's quite possible that the radiation emanating from mobile handsets interferes with the guidance systems of bees. When that happens, they are rendered unable to go back home and they die off far from the nest.

People may not care about the fortunes of such insects, but they better start to. Bees are, in large part, responsible to the pollination of crops. If they are absent, fertilization among plants is hard-pressed to take place. That means the agricultural sector will take a nose dive, creating economic impacts and food shortage.

The CCD phenomenon has been reported in the U.S. west coast, The United Kingdom and Europe. Significant death tolls to hives have been reported, averaging 40 percent of hives abandoned per beekeeping facility.

Aside from environmental concerns, cellular phones have also been reported to cause brain tumors and neuron death. Neurons are essentially brain cells. Symptoms include premature memory loss in a matter of years. Medical experts fear that today's teens may be senile by the time they hit 30.

Bees are as interesting, as well as they're useful, but now, they're mysteriously disappearing and researchers and farmers are baffled as to why this is happening. Around a 50 percent loss in the bee population has been reported in 22 states already.

Recently named Colony Collapse Disorder, this phenomenon has decimated commercial beekeeping operations all across the country. But what really sets off this mystery from other bee die-offs in the past are the following clues:

1. Usually, the bodies of dead bees are often littered around their hive, but with the CCD, no dead bees are to be found littered around to give clues about this mysterious ailment. Scientists think they've flown from the hive before dying.
2. Hives look normal from the outside, but when investigated, there are few mature bees to be found taking care of the young.
3. Weakened colonies do not get overrun by the stronger ones. They remain untouched for at least two weeks.

Researchers are convinced that CCD is a real abnormality. They suspect that pesticides, or mites, or poor management by bee farmers must be the reason why the bees are dying the way that they are.

Bees are very important. They gather pollen from the blooms of fruits, vegetables, nuts, melons and many other food crops for the production of honey in wax combs, in turn pollinating plants. Bees pollinate a total of one third of the world's food supply.

With CCD threatening honey and food production, as well as the livelihood of bee farmers, researchers are scrambling to find the culprit behind this mysterious phenomenon.