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Colony
Collapse Disorder Symposium Added to ESA Annual Meeting
CCD in honey bees will be discussed in San Diego this
December
Lanham, MD; October 17, 2007—A late-breaking symposium, “Colony
Collapse Disorder in Honey Bees: Insight Into Status, Potential Causes, and
Preventive Measures,” has recently been added to the 55th Annual
Meeting of the Entomological Society of America (ESA), to be held in San Diego,
December 9-12. The symposium, headed by entomologists Diana Cox-Foster (Penn
State University) and Jeff Pettis (USDA-ARS), will explore possible factors that
may have caused honey bee deaths since 2006, such as pathogens, parasites,
viruses, bacteria, disease, pesticide exposure, and breeding practices. In
addition, the myths and mysteries of CCD will be discussed, as well as possible
ways to combat the phenomenon.
“This
symposium will introduce many of the areas of concern for bee health and Colony
Collapse Disorder, and it features many of the top scientists who are tackling
CCD,” said Cox-Foster. “In addition, the speakers will profile many of the
cutting-edge techniques that are allowing us to determine what causes are
underlying declines in honey bee health. Many of these approaches are applicable
to looking at disease outbreaks in other organisms, including humans.”
The four-hour symposium will feature a dozen speakers, all of
whom are listed at
http://www.entsoc.org/ccd.htm along with the titles of their presentations.
It is scheduled to begin at 1:30 p.m. on Tuesday, December 11, 2007 in the
Golden West room (near the Atlas Ballroom) at the Town and Country Resort and
Convention Center.
“One silver
lining in the cloud that hangs over bee health is that the public has become
more aware of the invaluable role that pollinators play in our lives,” said Dr.
Pettis. “While this session on CCD will focus on honey bee health and the
implications for pollination of agricultural crops, the need to preserve all
pollinators—birds, bats, bees and butterflies—is finally getting some long
overdue attention.”
ESA’s Annual Meeting (http://www.entsoc.org/2007AM.htm)
is its premier event each year. Over 2,500 entomologists and professionals from
related disciplines from around the world will exchange scientific information
and ideas, enhance professional knowledge and skills, and network with
colleagues at this year’s meeting, which will feature over 70 symposia.
Members of
the media who would like to attend the meeting should contact Richard Levine
(301-731-4535 or
rlevine@entsoc.org) for a press pass. Proper media credentials showing a
direct affiliation with an accredited news organization must be presented.
Founded in 1889, ESA is a non-profit organization committed to serving the
scientific and professional needs of more than 5,700 entomologists and
individuals in related disciplines. ESA's membership includes representatives
from educational institutions, government, health agencies, and private
industry. For more information, visit
http://www.entsoc.org or write to
sro@entsoc.org.
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