Beekeepers report worst losses in U.S. history; causes still unclear.
Commercial beekeepers across the United States are reporting what some call the most catastrophic honey bee die-off in American history, according to a news release from the American Veterinary Medical Association Earlier this year, many beekeepers discovered their colonies in near or total collapse without warning.
More than half of the nation’s managed honey bee colonies appear to have experienced mass losses. Combined with ongoing die-offs throughout the year, some operations have lost between 70% and 100% of their colonies in the past 12 months, according to a February 6 report from the honey bee research organization Project Apis m.
“These losses are severe, broad, and may impact food security through inadequate pollination services,” the report stated. Financial losses to the apiary industry are estimated at more than $139 million.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture says honey bees pollinate $15 billion worth of crops each year, covering more than 130 fruits, vegetables, and nuts.
Beekeepers became aware of the die-off in January as they prepared to transport hives to California for almond pollination. Project Apis m. says this event echoes the 2007-08 outbreak of colony collapse disorder (CCD), when as much as 70% of a colony was suddenly wiped out. CCD typically involves worker bees vanishing, leaving behind the queen, food stores, and some nurse bees.
“During recent inspections by field scientists, deceased colonies often died with ample honey stores, leaving small patches of brood, with most or all the adult bees missing,” the report states. “Another symptom has been the rapid dwindling of surviving colonies, often within ten days of passing health inspections.”
In 2023, similar losses were seen in Florida, where up to 90% of colonies died. That event is still under review, but early findings suggest a combination of chemical exposures and novel pathogens.
The current crisis has sparked a coordinated response from Project Apis m., the American Beekeeping Federation, the American Honey Producers Association, and the USDA’s Agricultural Research Service labs.
“The cause has not yet been identified,” Project Apis m. said. “However, the usual causes of loss, including winter management and high levels of parasitic mites, are not currently indicated.”
Honey bees play a vital role in ecosystems and food production.
“Honey bees, our number one managed pollinator, are responsible for 75% of our most nutritious food crops,” said Terry Ryan Kane, officer with the Honey Bee Veterinary Consortium and honey bee representative on the AVMA Animal Agriculture Liaison Committee.
“Unfortunately, honey bee losses have been devastatingly high this past year, up to 60–70% in some places,” Kane said in the release. “Livestock losses of this magnitude are mobilizing bee veterinarians and entomologists to research the causes and look for solutions. We know parasites, pesticides, habitat losses, and the ravages of climate change are all contributing factors. Healthy pollinators mean a secure food supply to keep people, animals, and our environment healthy.”
