Why is honey robbing by nearby colonies delayed in hives affected by colony collapse disorder?

While colony collapse disorder (CCD) is a well-documented phenomenon characterized by the sudden disappearance of adult honeybees from their hives, the specific biological or chemical mechanism that causes nearby healthy colonies to delay robbing the honey stores of affected hives remains unknown.

Current research confirms that this delayed robbing is a hallmark symptom of CCD, alongside a similarly slower-than-normal invasion by common hive pests such as wax moths and small hive beetles. Although scientists have identified various pathogens, parasites, and environmental stressors—such as neonicotinoid pesticides and varroa mites—that are often present in affected colonies, no definitive cause for the disorder has been established. Consequently, the reason why other bees avoid these abandoned food stores is not yet understood by the scientific community.123