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Archana Jyoti New Delhi, May 28 (PTI) Electromagnetic rays emitted by cellphones may sound the death knell for the honeybee which has been found to have altered its behaviour leading to the complete collapse of bee colonies, says a new study. Already suffering from the "Colony Collapse Disorder" (CCD) where whole colonies of bees collapsed due to various causes like use of genetically modified crops, electromagnetic rays emitted by cellphones has now added to the woes of the honeybees. CCD was previously attributed to viruses, parasitic mites, pesticides, genetically modified crop use and climate change. Published in the latest issue of the "Current Science" journal, the study conducted by researchers Ved Parkash Sharmal and Neelima R Kumar from Punjab University have found changes in honeybee behaviour and biology under the influence of cellphone radiations. The new study has come close on the heels of an experiment conducted in Kerala by Sainuddin Pattazhy who found that the electromagnetic waves emitted by cellphone towers crippled the "navigational skills" of the worker bees that go out to collect nectar from flowers to sustain bee colonies. The researchers from Punjab University reached a similar conclusion after comparing the performance of honeybees in colonies exposed to cellphone radiation and those in colonies which remained unexposed. "Increase in the usage of electronic gadgets has led to electropollution of the environment. Honeybee behaviour and biology has been affected by electrosmog since these insects have magnetite (a natural magnet) in their bodies which helps them in navigation," the researchers said. The researchers selected four colonies of honeybees, Apis mellifera L, from the apiary of the Chandigarh-based Punjab University''s Zoology Department. "Two colonies marked as test colonies were provided with two functional cellphones of GSM 900 MHz frequency. The average radiofrequency (RF) power density was 8.549 W/cm2. The cellphones were placed on the two side walls of the bee hive in call mode," says the study. The other two colonies remained unexposed to cellphones. A significant decline in colony strength and in the egg laying rate of the queen was observed in the exposed colonies. .
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