Article 3: "Virus Is Seen as Suspect in Death of Honeybees"

The New York Times article “Virus Is Seen as Suspect in Death of Honeybees”
Author: Andrew C. Revkin
Date: September 7, 2007

Main Purpose: Scientists think they have found out what is a very like source of all the bee deaths. They think it is a virus possible related to another known illness called Israeli acute paralysis virus and another virus over in Australia. However, scientists point out that if a virus is the true source there is still likely other circumstances involved to produce such large “die-offs.”

This article was written in September, now there is other evidence that a virus isn’t the most likely source, but it is still a high suspect.

Description: This article discusses how a possible virus, a likely relative of another virus in Israel and Australia, could prove to be the answer to all the missing bees. With the help of the latest DNA technology scientists are well on their way to seeing exactly what is going on inside the bees. More and more tests are being run and data and analysis are continuing to be studied and stored in hopes of saving the bee population.

This article has about 3 parts:

The discovery of a virus- This part examines a possible virus that may be killing the bees and related to other bee death instances around the world.

Other sources besides the virus: This part discusses that maybe bee stress, radiation, or poor nutrition could also have had a hand in their mysterious disappearances.

How scientists are further studying the problem- This last portion points out new DNA technology and further research that might help locate any genetic problems.

Possible audiences: general public

Credentials: Author quotes Jeffery S. Pettis an entomologist with the Department of Agriculture and co-director of a national group working on the CCD problem, May Berenbaum the head of the department of entomology at the University of Illinois, W. Ian Lipkin an author of the new study and director of the Center for Infection and Immunology at Columbia University.

Revkin, Andrew. "Virus Is Seen as Suspect in Death of Honeybees." The New York Times. 7 Sept 2007. The New York Times Company. 2 Nov 2007