Colony collapse disorder (CCD) in the honey bee (Apis mellifera): A disinterested philosophical critique by an insect pathologist

Colony collapse disorder (CCD) in the honey bee is a concept that has attracted much attention for apiculturalists, entomologists and the culture at large. CCD remains an ill-defined syndrome of honey bees. Much work on honey bee declines is taking place nationally and internationlly. Disease in a social insect like the honey bee exists on two levels; the individual bee, and the colony level. It may be valuable to step back and critically examine the concept of CCD.