News, views and top stories in your inbox. Don't miss our must-read newsletter Sign up Thank you for subscribing We have more newsletters Show me See our privacy notice Invalid Email

Millions of bees mysteriously fell from the sky and wiped out beekeepers' profits in an instant in Canada.

The shock incident came just weeks after genetically modified corn was planted in Ontario, according to the local honey gatherers.

Beekeeper Dave Schuit lost about 37 million bees, which is around 600 hives.

He told urbanhomesteadhoney.com: "Once the corn started to get planted our bees died by the millions."

A collapse in the global honeybee population has caused widespread concern with many pointing to pesticides as the cause in the decline of colonies.

Video Loading Video Unavailable Click to play Tap to play The video will start in 8 Cancel Play now

The insects are vital to the food chain and their decline is a major threat to crops.

Bee expert Jeffery Pettis said: "We believe that some subtle interactions between nutrition, pesticide exposure and other stressors are converging to kill colonies."

The White House has set up a $8million task force to combat America's declining honey bee population.

The bee population in the US took a 23% nosedive last winter.

There are 250 species of bee in the UK but only 25 of these are native British bumblebees – half the figure from the 1950s.