[criley]

From Wikipedia:

"Multiple possible causes of CCD have been identified. In 2007, some authorities attributed the problem to biotic factors such as Varroa mites and insect diseases (i.e., pathogens[5] including Nosema apis and Israel acute paralysis virus).[6][7] Other proposed causes include environmental change-related stresses,[8] malnutrition, pesticides (e.g.. neonicotinoids such as clothianidin and imidacloprid[9][10][11]), and migratory beekeeping. other possibilities have included both cell phone radiation[12][13] and genetically modified (GM) crops with pest control characteristics although no evidence has been found to suggest this.[14][15]

Emphasis mine.

[14] http://www.sierraclub.org/biotech/whatsnew/whatsnew_2007-03-...

[15] http://www.spiegel.de/international/world/collapsing-colonie...

If someone has a greater understanding than the Wikipedia consensus and the sources to back it, please respond (or update Wikipedia!)

[Someone]

It is a fact that people have proposed that aliens make crop circles, but that says nothing about the truth of "aliens make crop circles".

That Wikipedia text quote is full of the former kind of phrase, using "Possible causes have been identified", "other proposed causes", and "other possibilities".

The sentence you emphasized starts with such a phrase:

"other possibilities have included […] genetically modified (GM) crops with pest control characteristics"

And then further weakens the statement with "although no evidence has been found to suggest this.*"

So, if I read that Wikipedia article, I mostly read "we don't know."

[criley]

That was the point I wanted to make. This HN comment page is full of "The cause is X" "Everyone agrees it's Y" "All I read is Z causing it!"

And I can't find any evidence of any of that.

[L0j1k]

I didn't say anything about GM plants. Monsanto is the world's largest producer of pesticides. But yes, humanity is doing so many things to bees that it's hard to really pin it down to one single thing that is killing them off.

[criley]

Wrong thread then, apologies. Still hopefully useful information!