The phenomenon of Colony Collapse Disorder (CCD) and resultant crop loss were first noticed in the USA several years ago, but had spread to most European countries by 2007, and now also to South Africa.

Currently cell phone towers in our country are being upgraded to cope during the World Cup Soccer tournament during June/July 2010.

Studies have shown evidence to support the theory of CCD among honeybees due to bioactive microwave radiation from cell phones and their relay towers. Recent experiments have found that worker bees fail to return to their hives when their navigation skills are interfered by the mobile microwaves. Cell phones were placed near beehives. These hives collapsed totally within five to ten days, with the worker bees failing to return to their hives.

The radiation also causes damage to the nervous system of the bee, and it becomes unable to fly. The parasites, wildlife and other bees that normally raid the honey and pollen left behind when a colony dies, refuse to go anywhere near the abandoned hives.

(From: Joan du Toit of Cullinan, in the GCA Newsletter, Ear to the Ground, no 22, December 2009).