Title: Why Are Bees Dying Off? | Bee Colony Collapse Disorder
Headings: 
Story at-a-glance
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By Dr. Mercola
California Almond Orchards Threatened by Bee Loss
What’s Causing Bees to Die?
EPA Blamed for Failure to Protect Bees
Do You Trust Monsanto to Solve the Bee Colony Collapse Problem?
Rodale Institute Tackles Bee Problem
How You Can Help Protect the Bees

Content: They get into the soil and groundwater where they can accumulate and remain for many years and present long-term toxicity to the hive. Neonicotinoids affect insects' central nervous systems in ways that are cumulative and irreversible. Even minute amounts can have profound effects over time. One of the observed effects of these insecticides is weakening of the bee's immune system. Forager bees bring pesticide-laden pollen back to the hive, where it's consumed by all of the bees. Six months later, their immune systems fail, and they fall prey to secondary, seemingly "natural" bee infections, such as parasites, mites, viruses, fungi and bacteria. The disappearance of bee colonies began accelerating in the United States shortly after the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) allowed these new insecticides on the market in the mid-2000s. Last month, beekeepers and environmental groups filed a lawsuit against the agency over its failure to protect bees from these toxic pesticides. Meanwhile, France has banned Imidacloprid for use on corn and sunflowers after reporting large losses of bees after exposure to it. They also rejected Bayer´s application for Clothianidin, and other countries, such as Italy, have banned certain neonicotinoids as well.