Researchers in Spain believe they have isolated the cause of Colony Collapse Disorder, a mysterious ailment that’s been wiping out honey bee colonies since 2006. And more importantly, they also think they’ve found the cure.

For the first time, scientists identified a lone parasite – Nosema ceranae – as the cause of bee declines at two professional apiaries. They found none of the other suspected causes of CCD at these apiaries – just the Nosema ceranae infection. Nosema ceranae is a strain of microsporidia, single-celled organisms which produce spores. About 1,200 of the known 15,000 microsporidia strains in existence cause diseases in insects.

The scientists treated the remaining bees from infected colonies with the antibiotic flumagillin, and reported a complete recovery of those hives.

The loss of honey bees would have drastic worldwide consequences for agriculture and the economy. This breakthrough may be the answer to reversing honey bee declines in the U.S. and Europe.

via Researchers May Have Found the Cure for Dying Honey Bees.