Senator Calls for Ban on Bee Imports

Sen. Charles Schumer (D-N.Y) wants the United States to stop importing honey bees from Australia, now that scientists have linked an Australian virus to colony collapse disorder, the mysterious illness afflicting hives across the country. Through a genetic analysis, scientists found that affected hives had Israeli acute paralysis disorder. (Don't be confused by the name: It was named so because the virus was first described in Israel, but the virus originates in Australia.)

The illness, which causes workers to leave the hive and never return, was widely noted this past winter. A ban on the importation of honey bees was lifted -- because American hives were suffering from a variety of other problems -- and the first bees were imported in more than 70 years, from Australia, in 2005. (For more milestones in beekeeping history, click here.)

In a letter dated yesterday, Schumer asked U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Mike Johanns to halt "the import of potentially infected Australian bees," until scientists understand the disease better, according to a story in Newsday. Beekeepers will rely on the imports to pollinate crops -- particularly the California almond crop, which requires bees early in the spring. Because of the losses of bees in the past year, it's possible that the need for importation is greater than in past years.

To read all The Daily Green's coverage of Colony Collapse Disorder, including news, tips and recipes, see: The Daily Green Saves the Bees

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