Bees Disappearing?!?!?!

Okay, I don't like bees. Never have. But this is just freaky.

VISALIA, Calif., Feb. 23 — David Bradshaw has endured countless stings during his life as a beekeeper, but he got the shock of his career when he opened his boxes last month and found half of his 100 million bees missing.

In 24 states throughout the country, beekeepers have gone through similar shocks as their bees have been disappearing inexplicably at an alarming rate, threatening not only their livelihoods but also the production of numerous crops, including California almonds, one of the nation’s most profitable.

“I have never seen anything like it,” Mr. Bradshaw, 50, said from an almond orchard here beginning to bloom. “Box after box after box are just empty. There’s nobody home.”

The sudden mysterious losses are highlighting the critical link that honeybees play in the long chain that gets fruit and vegetables to supermarkets and dinner tables across the country.

Apparently, the experts still have no idea why this is happening. Via DailyKos, here is an account of ongoing efforts at solving this alarming riddle.

Do any of you know more about this? If so, please post a comment or e-mail me whatever you know and I'll post an update.