Poll: Could Honeybees In San Leandro Become Zombies?

Like a scene from the movie, "Alien," a fly that incubates its eggs in the bodies of honeybees may be responsible for the decline of hives throughout Northern California, according to research published by San Francisco State University Professor John Hafernick.

Hafernick's research found that when the parasites mature, infected bees are drawn toward lights, where they may perish or be distracted from their mission of gathering nectar and pollinating plants.

Popular press reports have dubbed this the "Zombie" effect and implied that it could be a leading cause in the reduction of the state's honeybee population.

But learned news outlets, like Science Now, have taken a more circumspect view saying "parasites conceivably might play a role in colony collapse disorder (CCD)."

While the scientists hash this out, here's the question for San Leandro.

Our city is one of the rare Bay Area municipalities that bans backyard bees (and chickens), much to the chagrin of , who is among those trying to change .

In light of this research, would legalizing bee-keeping leave San Leandro prone to "Zombie" attacks, or bolster the number of healthy hives?

Sound off in comments and vote in our poll. Or at least crack a smile.

(Follow us on Twitter @sanleandropatch or like us at Facebook.com/sanleandropatch)