‘Zombie bees’ invade East Coast
Vermont beekeepers face mite infestations, extreme temperature swings and the possibility of colony collapse. Last fall, a new threat emerged: zombie bees.
Beekeeper Anthony Cantrell of Burlington discovered zombie bees in his hive in October, the first time they'd been found in the eastern United States.
John Hafernik, a professor from San Francisco State University, discovered the first zombie bees in 2008. A fly called Apocephalus borealis attaches itself to the bee and injects its eggs, which grow inside the bee, Hafernik said. Scientists believe it causes neurological damage resulting in erratic, jerky movement and night activity, "like a zombie," Hafernik said by phone Tuesday.
These aren't undead bees doomed to roam for eternity. They often die only a few hours after showing symptoms, Hafernik said.
Hafernik and his team of colleagues and students have been tracking the zombie bee spread across the United States. California, Washington, Oregon and South Dakota all have confirmed zombie bees while this is the first time the bee has been found this far east, said Hafernik. The fly previously attached to bumblebees as hosts, not honeybees, according to Hafernik.
"Right now, we don't know if it's an isolated thing," Stephen Parise, Vermont agricultural production specialist, said Tuesday at the state's annual farm show.
Comment: There has been a lot of wildfires across the globe in recent times. Is it just due to faulty wiring or is it perhaps due to electrically charged micrometeorites?
Other wildfires in the news in January:
Fire devours historic Norwegian village, 90 people hospitalized
Many Tibetan monasteries and famous sites destroyed this winter by mysterious 'wildfires'
"Interesting situation, fighting fires in the wintertime" - Oregon firefighters finally get Shady Cove wildfire under control
'Winter wildfire' torches 70 acres in Union Country, South Carolina - where daytime temperature is currently 31F! - cause unknown
Winter wildfire weirdness continues as warnings spread to chilly Arkansas
Cross all that remains standing amid California wildfire that destroyed 1,700 acres
Winter wildfire destroys homes near Los Angeles
Small wildfires sweep across Southern California
Wildfire shuts down Interstate 80 in Nebraska
256 wildfires suddenly break out in Victoria, Australia amid heatwave
Perth, Western Australia: Wildfire razes 27 homes, one man dead
From polar vortex to wildfires in one week! Fires break out across Oklahoma
Chile authorities issue health alert after forest fire smoke blankets Santiago
And this article to add the context of the exponentially increasing meteors:
Take cover! Meteor fireballs rain down across U.S. - Outbreaks of wildfires reported