"A heap of dead bees was supposed to become food for a newly captured praying mantis. Instead, the pile ended up revealing a previously unrecognized suspect in colony collapse disorder -- a mysterious condition that for several years has been causing declines in U.S. honeybee populations, which are needed to pollinate many important crops."

"This new potential culprit is a bizarre -- and potentially devastating—parasitic fly that has been taking over the bodies of honeybees (Apis mellifera) in Northern California."

Katherine Harmon reports for Scientific American's Observations blog January 3, 2012. [2]

SEE ALSO:

"Parasitic Fly Could Account for Disappearing Honeybees" (New Scientist/Andy Coghlan) [3]