Honeybees dropping like flies from mystery illness

A mysterious illness killing tens of thousands of honeybee colonies across the United States has industry experts baffled and Canadian beekeepers concerned about the health of their hives.

Researchers in the United States are searching for the cause of the ailment, called Colony Collapse Disorder.

Beekeepers from at least 22 states have reported unusual colony deaths. Some commercial beekeepers have reported losing more than 50 per cent of their colonies.