In the past six years, more than 10m beehives have been wiped out from a mystery disease called colony collapse disorder. This destruction has serious implications on worldwide ecology and economy.

Of the 100 crop species responsible for providing 90% of food worldwide, 71 are dependent on bee pollination, according to UN estimates (pdf). It's difficult to pinpoint the financial implications of this destruction, but the international body says pollination is worth between $37bn and $91bn, annually.

Stories about the declining population and its effect on the environment trickle through the news cycle each week. To bring awareness to these stories and contextualize the issues, we will highlight the major bee-related stories every Tuesday, with analysis from The Guardian's Alison Benjamin, co-author of A World Without Bees, Bees in the City: The Urban Beekeepers' Handbook and Keeping Bees and Making Honey. She is also a beekeeper.

What happened?

Bees pollinating crops including watermelon, cucumbers and blueberries return to their hives with pollen contaminated by agricultural chemicals – leaving insects more susceptible to a lethal parasite, according to a study published online last week. Pollen filled with fungicides, insecticides and other agriculture chemicals was fed to healthy bees, that were then more likely to be infected by Nosema ceranae – the parasite linked to the decimation of honey bees.

Key quote

Fungicides, which we didn't expect to harm insects, seem to have a sub-lethal effect on bee health," Dennis vanEngelsdorp, an entomologist at the University of Maryland and senior author of the new study, told NBC News. He said this is important because fungicides aren't heavily regulated.

Why it matters:

Colony collapse disorder is caused by a combination of factors – parasites, agricultural chemicals and poor nutrition. These all weaken the honeybees' immune system and make them more susceptible to viruses and infections that can kill them. Up until now concerns around agricultural chemicals and honeybees have focused on the impact neonicotinoid pesticides are having and a temporary ban has been imposed on three types by the European Commission. Yet, this study shows that fungicides used on many crops pollinated by bees can also have serious consequences. Attention now needs to turn to these chemicals and to ensure that tests are conducted when they are registered for use which protects honeybees.

What happened:

The fact that different kinds of bees prefer different kinds of flowers lead two researchers in Colorado to wonder what would happen if an entire bee species disappeared. So they removed (using nets and traps) the most numerous bumble bee species from a meadow in Colorado. The question: would the other bee species pick up the slack and continue to pollinate the abandoned flowers? Or would they leave the plants to die?

The result: the remaining bumblebees became less faithful to one flower species than they had been before the more populous bees had been around to keep them in line. This had a serious impact on the tall larkspur, a lovely purple wildflower, who needs its own pollen to reproduce (aka a faithful bee partner).

Key quote:

Because of the unfaithful bees, the researchers reported Monday in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, plants produced about 30% less seed. The finding, they report, shows a surprising effect from a loss of biodiversity that could have implications for a variety of ecosystems.

Why it matters:

It is not just honeybees that pollinate crops and flowers, bumblebees and solitary bees do too. And there are many more varieties of bumblebees and solitary bees than there are honeybees. In fact we only have one species of honeybee in the US and Europe and Australasia – Apis Mellifera; the western honeybee. Many bumblebees and solitary bees have evolved to pollinate certain flowers. They have a symbiotic relationship – the flower needs the bee to pollinate it and the bee needs the nectar and pollen from the flower to provide protein and energy for itself and the baby bees. If the bee dies out that flower will soon follow and the ecosystems fall apart.

We don't keep bumblebees and solitary bees, but we can do things to improve their habitat from creating bee hotels – a collection of hollow plant stems – where solitary bees can lay their eggs to leaving a pile of leaves in the garden where bumblebees can nest.

What happened:

We hit peak bee crisis this week when Martha Stewart, queen of domestic perfection, started tending to her own bee hives and coaching readers on how to take care of their own.

Key quote:

With the epidemic hive failures and disappearance of many colonies, beekeepers have new concerns about maintaining their hives. In fact, Martha's own colony has experienced a collapse over the years as her own bees left in a "mass exodus," and she had to re-establish much of the colony within her four hives, prompting her to send out her message to all other would-be keepers out there.

Why it matters:

The decline in honeybees has led to an unprecedented surge in the number of new beekeepers around the globe. It has become very fashionable for young, urban professionals to keep bees on roof tops and backyards. But beekeeping is a perilous pastime because bees can die during the winter of starvation, or they can be overrun with the varroa parasite if not treated correctly. It can be expensive restocking your hive every spring. Probably a more effective way to save honeybees and other bees is to make your neighbourhood more bee-friendly by planting bee-friendly flowers and trees in your garden and in your parks and streets – bees need flowers throughout the year, from very early spring to late autumn – ditching any weed killers which can include harmful chemicals, and replacing driveways and decking with wildflowers.

What happened:

When bees become disruptive in cities, local governments are favoring the relocation of bees over extermination. This specialized process requires beekeepers and bee specialists to transport tens of thousands of bees to farms – in this instance Rodney Oakley moved 30,000 bees, the amount typically found in a small hive, in Austin, Texas. He told the Austin American Statesman that local honey bees struggle from the mix of drought conditions, increased used of pesticides and decreased diversity in crops.

Key quote:

As more attention has been focused on the honey bee and its importance and decline, more people have been calling," Rodney Oakley said. "In communities that are more conscious of environmental issues, like Austin, they will search me out so that the bees aren't destroyed.

Why it matters:

Honeybees are important for pollination and to make delicious honey, so it's never a good idea to kill bees. They can live in harmony with people in urban areas if the beekeeper is responsible and ensures his bees don't swarm and annoy the neighbours. But if there are problems with the neighbours you should relocate your honeybees. And if you see a swarm of bees, you should contact a local beekeeping association or group. They will have a designated swarm collector who will come out and collect the bees and take them away.

What happened:

UK government scientist Dr Helen Thomspon is set to join chemical giant Syngenta. Thompson's research – including a field trial of neonicotinoids, the frequently used insecticide, on bees – was used by ministers to argue against a ban on pesticides.

Key quote:

UK government policy should be informed by unbiased and disinterested scientific research," said Joan Walley MP, chair of the environmental audit committee, whose report in April accused the environment secretary Owen Paterson's department of "extraordinary complacency" over bees and pesticides. "This principle is undermined if the government research agency is too close to the pesticides industry and if scientists are zigzagging between the two.

Why it matters:

There has been huge controversy over the UK government's stance against banning certain pesticides implicated in bee deaths across the globe. The ban was introduced earlier this year Europe-wide despite the UK government's resistance. Environmental groups have accused the government of being too close to big agricultural companies such as Syngenta. Whether this is true or not, Dr Helen Thompson's move from government scientist to Syngenta does not inspire confidence that this government was acting in an impartial manner. What of other government scientists – are they too looking for very well paid jobs with the chemical giants? If so are they likely to be providing advice that is critical of their potential future employers?