Decimation of bee populations in the United States is gradually assuming catastrophic proportions. The consequences for agriculture and the economy could be enormous.

Possible causes:
1. Widespread practice in agriculture of spraying wildflowers with herbicides and practicing monoculture.
2. Controversial use of genetic engineering in agriculture. (large-scale use of genetically modified plants in the US could be a factor)
3. Bees lose their sense of orientation so they can no longer find their way back to their hives.
4. Some speculate that a particular toxin, some unfamiliar agent is killing the bees.
5. Recent proliferation of electromagnetic waves from the 2.5 billion+ cell phone users around the world. (Disrupts intercellular communication within individual bees, many of them cannot find their way back to the hive.)