One hypothesis backed up by some newly published research documents that there are parasitic flies that are using honeybees as their host. As the Discover magazine article states...
Andrew Core from San Francisco State University has a possible answer, and a new suspect for CCD. He has shown that a parasitic fly, usually known for attacking bumblebees, also targets honeybees. The fly, Apocephalus borealis, lays up to a dozen eggs in bee workers. Its grubs eventually eat the bees from the inside-out. And the infected workers, for whatever reason, abandon their hives to die.
These parasites have been referred to as "Zombie" fly parasites because they affect the behavior of the bees. The picture below taken from both articles linked shows a larval stage emerging from neck of the honeybee.
As you comment determine what affect this could have on the ecosystems in which bees have a niche. Also comment upon whether the data actually shows a connection to these parasites and CCD, or if they are merely happening to the same organisms
