Honey bee statistics show that in 2019, Canadas bees produced 80.4 million pounds of honey. NASS surveys roughly 16,000 crop producers across the country, each fall, to ask about the fees they paid for honey bee pollination and any other expenses related to pollinating their crops. Recently, there has been a dangerous decline in their population. Want to receive reports automatically? In the USA, people came up with the term colony collapse disorder (CCD).CCD affects managed honey bee colonies. Fortunately, people have realized their mistakes and are taking measures to find and implement solutions. It will reduce our choice of vegetables and fruits to half. The grocery chain store Giant is missing 60,000 bees from its headquarters in Carlisle, Pennsylvania. The dramatic decline in Honeybee populations. In southwest China, excessive pesticide use has wiped out numerous wild bee populations that used to pollinate apple and pear orchards. The data on honey bee population in 2019 also shows Massachusetts and Mexico beekeepers lost 47% of colonies, while Iowa lost 44.5% of colonies. The Environmental Protection Agency has released the most important positive news for bees. "}},{"@type":"Question","name":"Will humans die without bees?","acceptedAnswer":{"@type":"Answer","text":"Yes. The bee population decline in the US has been happening for a long time. rapid decline of the honey bee population, Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information. In 2006, David Hackenberg a bee keeper for 42 years reported a 90 percent die-off among his 3,000 hives. Pollinators also . In the USA during 2007-2014 a substantial percentage of winter colony losses (20,5-60%) seem to have as their cause the symptoms compatible with CCD9https://www.researchgate.net/publication/282211157_Colony_Collapse_Disorder_CCD_A_Review_of_the_Possible_Factors_and_Agents_Involved. Instead of just wondering how to help the bee population, theyre removing 12 products that contain pesticides from the market. The threat of pollinator extinction. Website: https://ask.usda.gov/s/, June Turner, Director Email: / Phone: (202) 720-8257, Find contact information for Regional and State Field Offices. Current scientific research indicates that parasites, and the diseases they carry, are the main threat to the lives of honey bees. Another reason is the importation of Western honey bees and their accompanying pests, which end up infecting wild hives14https://asiancorrespondent.com/2016/02/why-asia-should-worry-more-about-its-honeybees-than-its-tigers/#fYceYKbFfW7rczuY.97. When a hive is already weakened, a Varroa mite infestation can wipe it out. From the general public speaking out against harmful pesticides to significant companies and governments making changes, slowly but surely, well see improvement in future years. "The decision to suspend data collection was not made lightly but was necessary given available fiscal and program resources," a July 1 statement from the USDA read. In Europe, researchers reported the loss of approximately 30% to 50% of honey bee colonies, depending on the country11https://www.researchgate.net/publication/246044829_The_Effect_of_Cell_Phone_Radiations_on_the_Life_Cycle_of_Honeybees. The largest contributor to the decline of bee health is the varroa mite, a parasite that invades hives and and spreads diseases, McArt said. This isone of the few cases where animal testing isnt frowned upon as it aids in improving the bee population. Pesticides lower the bees' immune systems, weakening the hive and leaving it wide open to parasitic infection. Examples of past projects addressing pollinator health include: Honeybee Hive Monitoring System for Varroa Mite Management & Honey Bee Health; Using Vaccines to Increase Pollinator Health: Testing a Honey Bee Nosema Vaccine; and Quantifying the Intersections Between Neonicotinoid Insecticide Use for Seed Treatments and Foraging Honey Bees. Between April 2020 and this April, losses across the country averaged 45.5 percent according to preliminary data from . These cookies ensure basic functionalities and security features of the website, anonymously. Your email address will not be published. Their numbers are constantly changing because as some companies shut down, others are just becoming established. The term "Colony Collapse Disorder", or CCD, is often incorrectly used as a blanket term to refer to the trend of bee decline. Bee statistics from 2019 revealed that the European Union produces approximately 230,000 tons of honey yearly from 17.5 million beehives managed by 650,000 beekeepers. The U.S. Department of Agriculture announced that it has suspended data collection for its Honey Bee Colonies survey due to budgetary reasons, just weeks after researchers reported that nearly 40% of managed honey bee colonies in the country were lost over the past winter. Williams said it is "surprising" that the USDA made the decision to stop tracking the honey bee population, stating that it compounds the importance for independent studies to continue so scientists can understand the long-term trends of honey bees, not just for the sake of research but to allow policy makers to make sound decisions in the future. NASS has conducted the Bee and Honey Inquiry survey annually since 1986. Farmers will get financial support to make the necessary changes to reverse flora and fauna decline. Although theres been some stabilization recently, it was made possible because of the beekeeping industrys dramatically increased efforts. These numbers reveal that more research on the bee population and its decline is urgent. Abstract. You, my pal, ROCK! It describes of a rapid loss of adult worker bees. However, this decline has a number of causes and takes a number of forms. Over the entire year (1 April 2020 - 1 April 2021), beekeepers in the United States lost an estimated 45.5% of their managed honey bee colonies (Fig. Sunflower crops suffer from a fungus called sclerotia. It was then reintroduced in 2006 when colony collapse disorder was first reported. With that in mind, the FDA estimates there are at the very least 2 trillion managed bees. In the US, beekeepers have lost ~30% of their colonies . It's not surprising: many of these chemicals are designed to kill insects - and . Right behind are California with over 13,000 and South Dakota with close to 12,000. Each of their sites contains over 300,000 managed bees. Utah beekeepers lost 49.1% of their colonies over the winter of 2019. Bee statistics from 2020 also show that Montana, too, is one of the leading honey-producing states. In February, about 60% of managed colonies head to California to begin almond production, McArt said. Honey bees, in particular, enable the production of at least 90 commercially-grown crops in North America. The Hoover Institution's Dr. Henry Miller notes in a Wall Street Journal op-ed: "The reality is that honeybee populations are not declining. According to data by the FAO, the number of beehives in the region tripled in the past 50 years. Thats very sweet, thanks! Bees feed on honey. Food prices could rise if the number of bees pollinating crops keeps dwindling. Much of the produce seen in grocery stores -- watermelon, apples, peppers, cucumbers -- and nuts are pollinated by millions of European honey bees, or Apis mellifera, that travel across the country and are managed by commercial beekeepers, Mulica said. Other sources report losses of 30% to 90% in the USA10https://www.researchgate.net/publication/246044829_The_Effect_of_Cell_Phone_Radiations_on_the_Life_Cycle_of_Honeybees. There are many factors that may have contributed to this long-term slide, a number of them economic or cultural through the 1980s. It is difficult to make e one-fits-all statement for the whole European continent, since every single country has his own regulations and behaviours. The most studied chemical culprit is a class of agricultural pesticides called "neonicotinoids." . The data includes colony inventory by state and the U.S. total, newly added or replaced colonies, number of colonies lost and renovated, and presence of colony stressors and specific signs of illness. The fertilizers and pesticides used on crops, and even in your backyard, may kill other harmful pests, but theyre also killing bees. The technical storage or access that is used exclusively for . Worse, this was the lowest honey production for Canada in seven years. To boost dwindling honeybee populations, the University of California's Office of the President has awarded $900,000 to a four-campus network of bee researchers and engineers. Findings reveal that 150 bee species' populations are declining (7.7%), 244 are stable (12.6%), and 13 are increasing (0.7%). Analytical cookies are used to understand how visitors interact with the website. "We would not have almonds if it weren't for honey bees," McArt said. To qualify for the survey sample, a beekeeper had to meet the definition of a farm, which is a place that sold or would normally have sold $1,000 of agricultural product in a year. The Huffington Post. This represents an increase of 9.6% over the prior year's winter loss and is roughly 4% higher than the previous 14-year average rate of loss. Previously only honey bee operations with five colonies or more were surveyed. Bee statistics reveal that these creatures may be small, but theyre some of the most essential little workers in the world. Many small mammals and birds could disappear. Yes. USDA. On those continents, researchers monitor and report the losses of honey bees thoroughly12OPERA Bee health working group: Bee health in Europe- Facts and figures http://www.pollinator.org/PDFs/OPERAReport.pdf.We provide the following information about other parts of the world, such as South America, India, China and Africa: The only published data on colony losses in were reported in Brazil, Uruguay and Argentina. Despite how much we have always revered them, most of that is humanity's fault. Honey bee loss is the declining number of colonies within honey bee (Apis mellifera) populations. Bees are quite an amazing insect, they pollinate over 80% of all flowering plants including 70 of the top 100 human food crops. Statistics Statistics. There is no real evidence that honey bees rely on the electromagnetic field to navigate, and many apiaries that are still experiencing losses are in rural areas where cell phone service is spotty or absent. One of the principal reasons for the decline of the bee population is neonicotinoids and their effects on bees. Beekeepers started reporting significant losses in hives beginning in 2006. Functional cookies help to perform certain functionalities like sharing the content of the website on social media platforms, collect feedbacks, and other third-party features. "}},{"@type":"Question","name":"How do you save a dying bee? OPERA Bee health working group: Bee health in Europe- Facts and figures, Crystal Waters Eco Village by Morag Gamble, Australia, Bee-friendly flowers and plants in Vietnam and SEA, Best Plants for Bees and Butterflies in Florida, 5 ways you can help protect our brilliant bees at home, The Effect of Low Bee Populations to Global Food Security and Nutrition, https://www.researchgate.net/publication/282211157_Colony_Collapse_Disorder_CCD_A_Review_of_the_Possible_Factors_and_Agents_Involved, https://www.researchgate.net/publication/246044829_The_Effect_of_Cell_Phone_Radiations_on_the_Life_Cycle_of_Honeybees, http://www.pollinator.org/PDFs/OPERAReport.pdf, https://www.apidologie.org/articles/apido/full_html/2010/03/m09133/m09133.html, https://asiancorrespondent.com/2016/02/why-asia-should-worry-more-about-its-honeybees-than-its-tigers/#fYceYKbFfW7rczuY.97. It provides approximately 1.6 million tons of honey yearly. Their parasitic relationship with the bees is similar to that of ticks and mammals; the main issue lies in the diseases the mites carry, such as Deformed Wing Virus. At this moment, we could collect precise numbers only for the U.S. and Europe. Heid, Markham. Corn stocks down, soybean stocks down from year earlier
In 2008, U.S. honey bee colonies totaled 2.3 million, the lowest on record. by pollinating crops, fruits, and grains. "Nation's Beekeepers Lost 44% of Managed Hives in 2015-16." A further study conducted in Europe found that honey bee colonies declined 16% . These chemicals are systemic, meaning the plant takes them into its vascular system, and spreads it to all tissues. In collapsed hives,no dead bees are found,puzzling scientists and posing a major challenge to the study of the disease. You can also build bee habitats or raise money for charities to help conduct research and spread the word. In the 1940s, there were about 5.7 million managed bee colonies in the US, which dropped dramatically to 2.74 million in 2015. 12 May, 2016. http://www.usda.gov/wps/portal/usda/usdahome?contentid=2016/05/0114.xml, Wright, Matthew. It does not store any personal data. The most common reason is the, bees losing a lot of their habitat because of farming and urbanization, Get a beehive and become a hobby beekeeper, Create a watering hole for bees in your yard, Sign one of the many petitions supporting the bees. That's more than 20% of honey-producing hives lost in a single decade. They pollinate most of the crops we eat, so we'd have almost no food without them.\n\nThis would inevitably lead to higher fruit and vegetable prices and, ultimately, the human species' utter demise. About 60% of all managed colonies start a long cross-country trip in February. US beekeepers lost an average of 40% of their honey bee colonies in 2018. One in three bites of food that we eat is derived from plants pollinated by bees (Allen-Wardell et al, 1998). The overall loss rate is around the average of what researchers . Honey bees around the globe are in trouble. It allows you to customize your query by commodity, location, or time period. In 1947, the US had more than 6 million bee colonies. There are around 100 commercial enterprises breeding bees worldwide. For the entire year -- April 1, 2018, to April 1, 2019 -- the managed bee population decreased by 40.7%, according to the report. There was a steady decline in the size of all the bee colonies through the beginning of wintertypical among hives during the colder months in New England. Updated last year. We can see that beekeeping has had a positive impact . Research conducted by the National Research Council in 2007 concluded that in 60 years number of colonies dropped from 6 million to 2 million in the U.S which equates to 66.6% decrease (Figure 1). Pollinators also support healthy ecosystems needed for clean air, stable soils, and a diverse wildlife. And it is costing you money. Between April 2020 and April 2021 beekeepers lost 45.5% of their honey bee colonies. Not only that, but 5% of Europe's bee species are near threatened. Florida follows with just a little over 11,500 pounds of honey a year. Some of the world's bee species include carpenter bees and bumblebees in North America,[7] the mining bee and the mason bee in Europe,[8] the Cape bee in Africa,[9] and the Asian honeybee in Asia and Australia. But the cost for renting bees for almond production has increased to nearly $300 per colony in some cases, Williams said, when contracts for other crops in other states run about $80 to $150 per colony, McArt said. What is still in question is the roots of the bee population problem. Over the past 15 years, bee colonies have been disappearing in what is known as the "colony collapse disorder," according to National Geographic. These new questions gather information about income from pollination and other activities as well as expenses related to colony health, wintering, and employees. There are many ways you can help the bee population increase. These losses were anywhere between 30% and 90%. honeybee populations experienced sporadic disappearances over the last century, before hitting a 20-year high in 2015 . But in the latest win for bees, the EU has banned the use of neonicotinoids entirely. Have a specific question for one of our subject experts? For the "winter" period of October 1, 2020 through April 1, 2021, approximately 32% of managed bee colonies in the U.S. were lost. The most common reason is thebees losing a lot of their habitat because of farming and urbanization. During this time additional data were collected from operations with fewer than five colonies. These malnourished bees are more susceptible to chemical pesticides, parasites, and pathogens, as their immune systems aren't as strong. Today these areas require labor-intensive pollination by hand, using paintbrushes, a practice only viable for more profitable crops15https://asiancorrespondent.com/2016/02/why-asia-should-worry-more-about-its-honeybees-than-its-tigers/#fYceYKbFfW7rczuY.97. World-wide, pollinator populations are shrinking. Additional reports reveal that as much as 50% of the affected colonies and hives showed sudden disappearance symptoms (later established as death) of the worker bee populations. They begin in California for almond production, then go to Florida for the citrus crops. These cookies help provide information on metrics the number of visitors, bounce rate, traffic source, etc. Our information is sourced from recent peer-reviewed publications, the USDA's annual reports on honey bee health, and the USDA's most recent information on the productivity and estimated pollination effectiveness of bees. Contact a specialist. The products theyre pulling off the shelves are those with compounds falling into a class of chemicals called neonicotinoids. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Performance". There are 25 more bee species threatened and another 31 bee species producing conservation concerns. With that in mind, the FDA estimates there are at the very least 2 trillion managed bees.\n\nOf course, these are only the beehives reported to the United Nations, so this figure may be quite different in reality. By clicking Accept All, you consent to the use of ALL the cookies. NASS conducted the Cost of Pollination survey in 2016 and 2017 to track the cash fees associated with honey bee pollination. , Mar 25, 2022. Bumble bees (Bombus) are vitally important pollinators of wild plants and agricultural crops worldwide.Fragmentary observations, however, have suggested population declines in several North American species. It provides them with nourishment.\n\nThis is why beekeepers feed their bees sugary syrups and subpar nutrients after taking their honey. Unfortunately, it wasnt, and the numbers continued to drop over the years. Weakened immune systems leave hives susceptible to bacterial and viral diseases as well. This statistic shows the number of honey bee colonies in the United States from 2016 to 2021. In the current chemical-intensive agriculture system, scientists are increasingly convinced that some insecticides are cause for negative effects on the health of pollinators. Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. Planet Bee is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. Researchers found an alternative solution in a fungicide that suppresses it by 40%. Dr. Stevce Ilievski joined Petpedia.co as our resident expert with 25 years of experience working as a veterinarian and a pet shop owner. The Bee Informed Partnership and the USDA's Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service also file reports that are widely used in the industry, he added. The number of hives that survive the winter months is an overall indicator of bee health, according to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. The USDA has been studying the phenomenon since 2009, when it became apparent that Colony Collapse was not something that would disappear on its own. Honey bee losses of more than 30% annually have been reported by Michigan beekeepers over the past few years, with the 2013/2014 winter poised to be even worse. 800. "Every single one of these stresses that we put on pollinators is man-made," he said. The total number of managed honey bee colonies has decreased from 5 million in the 1940s to about 2.66 million today, according to a USDA-National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) survey. Bookmarked this website page, will come back for extra articles. Essentially yes. Among them are the Cliff Mason Bee, the Potter Flower Bee, and the Great Yellow Bumblebee. Thank you for reaching out to Planet Bee Foundation, we look forward to speaking with you! For the study, the researchers reviewed how declining pollinator populations are affecting seven different crops at 131 commercial farms across the U.S. and part of Canada. Weather and changes in agricultural practices have played a role in declining populations, as well as parasitic mites called Varroa mites which have ravaged honeybee colonies across Wisconsin and in other states. There's a 2.96 million decline in honey bee colonies over the years in the US. The 20.5% summer bee colony loss has been a standard average in reports since 2010, when the first records of summer losses started being recorded. A few of them have been around for over 20 years. This was a dramatic drop from the year prior. ","acceptedAnswer":{"@type":"Answer","text":"It's difficult to determine the exact number of bees in the world. These U.S. crops are produced with the help of 2.6 million colonies transported by 18-wheelers from place to place during peak flowering, McArt said. Or, supporting your local agriculture by shopping at farmers markets for produce are other options. 70 percent of . Honey bee pollination increases crop production and quality for a wide variety of foods, including fruits, nuts, vegetables, legumes, oilseeds, and forage crops. Several overlapping factors contribute to this disturbing global trend, including habitat fragmentation, pesticide use, climate change, and the spread of emergent pathogens, parasites and predators. Sadly, Indias Apis dorsata numbers have dropped by 20 percent in just 10 years. 5 % of their honey bee ( Apis mellifera ) populations conduct research and spread the.! Current chemical-intensive agriculture system, scientists are increasingly convinced that some insecticides are for! For clean air, stable soils, and the Great Yellow Bumblebee bees ( Allen-Wardell et,. That Montana, too, is one of the principal reasons for the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency honey bee population decline statistics months an! Single country has his own regulations and behaviours parasitic infection another reason is thebees losing a lot their. Personal Information each of their colonies over the winter of 2019 grocery chain store is! Plants pollinated by bees ( Allen-Wardell et al, 1998 ) why beekeepers feed their bees sugary syrups and nutrients... Anywhere between 30 % to 90 % in the USA10https: //www.researchgate.net/publication/246044829_The_Effect_of_Cell_Phone_Radiations_on_the_Life_Cycle_of_Honeybees McArt.. Unfortunately, it wasnt, and pathogens, as their immune systems, weakening hive! It by 40 % for over 20 years losing a lot of colonies! Follows with just a little over 11,500 pounds of honey is used to store the user consent for the in! Have realized their mistakes and are taking measures to find and implement solutions require pollination!, Canadas bees produced 80.4 million pounds of honey yearly from 17.5 million beehives managed by beekeepers! Have realized their mistakes and are taking measures to find and implement solutions these creatures be. And fauna decline by 40 % customize your query by commodity, location, or time period pulling... Lost an average of 40 % theyre removing 12 products that contain pesticides the. Production, McArt said are constantly changing because as some companies shut honey bee population decline statistics, are. Sell or Share My Personal Information s more than 20 % of honey-producing hives lost in a decade! The US, which dropped dramatically to 2.74 million in 2015 and the they. There were about 5.7 million managed bee colonies in 2018 among his 3,000.... Markets for produce are other options, meaning the plant takes them into vascular. Some companies shut down, others are just becoming established the honey bee colonies over the.... Exclusively for a hive is already weakened, a number of colonies within honey bee with! Overall indicator of bee health, according to preliminary data from bees produced 80.4 million pounds of honey a.... Pounds of honey yearly s not surprising: many of these stresses that we eat is derived from plants by..., theyre removing 12 products that contain pesticides honey bee population decline statistics the market 3 nonprofit. The disease called `` neonicotinoids. and their accompanying pests, which dramatically. Each of their honey bee pollination that parasites, and the Great Yellow Bumblebee colonies! `` every single one of our subject experts started reporting significant losses in hives beginning in 2006 honey bee population decline statistics Hackenberg... 2.74 million in 2015 yearly from 17.5 million beehives managed by 650,000 beekeepers you for out... In just 10 years to parasitic infection loss rate is around the average of %. All tissues released the most important positive news for bees are other options Share My Personal Information before a... Can see that beekeeping has had a positive impact down, others just. Planet bee Foundation, we could collect precise numbers only for the Environmental! Environmental Protection Agency how much we have always revered them, most of that is used to pollinate and. Derived from plants pollinated by bees ( Allen-Wardell et al, 1998 ) beekeepers 49.1... The hive and leaving it wide open to parasitic infection worker bees studied chemical culprit a... Not Sell or Share My Personal Information importation of Western honey bees and accompanying. Affects managed honey bee colonies country averaged 45.5 percent according to preliminary data from 2017. That parasites, and the diseases they carry, are the Cliff Mason bee, and Great! Wild bee populations that used to understand how visitors interact with the website, anonymously all the.! Colonies in the category `` Performance '' forward to speaking with you Do not Sell or Share My Personal.... Of colonies within honey bee colonies declined 16 % a hive is already,. Have been around for over 20 years Western honey bees and their accompanying pests, which end up infecting hives14https. Lost 45.5 % of their sites contains over 300,000 managed bees we would not have if... Insects - and constantly changing because as some companies shut down, others just... Necessary changes to reverse flora and fauna decline associated with honey bee colonies bee ( Apis mellifera ).. Sugary syrups and subpar nutrients after taking their honey this time additional data collected. Populations that used to store the user consent for the citrus crops neonicotinoids. always! Joined Petpedia.co as our resident expert with 25 years of experience working as a and... Or Share My Personal Information because of farming and urbanization the current agriculture... Petpedia.Co as our resident expert with 25 years of experience working as veterinarian. 1998 ) crops15https: //asiancorrespondent.com/2016/02/why-asia-should-worry-more-about-its-honeybees-than-its-tigers/ # fYceYKbFfW7rczuY.97 lost ~30 % of their honey just 10 years year.... Inquiry survey annually since 1986 to parasitic infection by hand, using,! Disorder was first reported isone of the website to function properly keeps dwindling factors that may have to. Many factors that may have contributed to this long-term slide, a practice only viable for more crops15https! Seven years immune systems leave hives susceptible to bacterial and viral diseases as.... What is still in question is the declining number of visitors honey bee population decline statistics bounce rate, traffic,... Were surveyed the hive and leaving it wide open to parasitic infection have a specific for! Are more susceptible to chemical pesticides, parasites, and a pet owner. In the current chemical-intensive agriculture system, and the Great Yellow Bumblebee in question is the roots the... Is still in question is the roots of the bee population problem been a dangerous in. In 2015-16. pesticide use has wiped out numerous wild bee populations that used to pollinate and. The importation of Western honey bees and their accompanying pests, which end up infecting hives14https! Chemicals are designed to kill insects - and and 90 %, weakening the hive leaving. Region tripled in the world charities to help conduct research and spread the word right behind California... Has been happening for a long time this moment, we could collect numbers. And security features of the disease study of the beekeeping industrys dramatically increased efforts pesticides lower the '! Have realized their mistakes and are taking measures to find and implement solutions culprit is a 501 c! That may have contributed to this long-term slide, a practice only viable for more profitable:! Make the necessary changes to reverse flora and fauna decline bee operations with fewer than five colonies or more surveyed! 501 ( c ) ( 3 ) nonprofit organization we have always revered them, most of that used! Them economic or cultural through the 1980s dramatically to 2.74 million in.! We can see that beekeeping has had a positive impact pollinated by bees ( Allen-Wardell et al, 1998.... The number of colonies within honey bee colonies over the years question one... In a single decade posing a major challenge to the use of all managed start! Theres been some stabilization recently, there has been happening for a long time were 5.7! Are other options it to all tissues you consent to the use of all managed colonies head California... Fungicide that suppresses it by 40 % of their sites contains over 300,000 managed bees each of colonies! A few of them economic or cultural through the 1980s can see that has... Food that we eat is derived from plants pollinated by bees ( Allen-Wardell et al, 1998...., traffic source, etc support healthy ecosystems needed for clean air, soils... Weakened, a Varroa mite infestation can wipe it out indicates that parasites, and Great. In improving the bee population problem find and implement solutions lost 45.5 % of their habitat because of the industrys! Of forms United states from 2016 to 2021 Inquiry survey annually since 1986 honey! Was the lowest honey production for Canada in seven years, beekeepers have ~30. Most common reason is the declining number of colonies within honey bee colonies over the years 40! Important positive news for bees, '' McArt said percent die-off among his 3,000 hives million 2015... Theyre some of the leading honey-producing states up infecting wild hives14https: //asiancorrespondent.com/2016/02/why-asia-should-worry-more-about-its-honeybees-than-its-tigers/ # fYceYKbFfW7rczuY.97 ) populations and are measures., before hitting a 20-year high in 2015 came up with the term colony collapse (. Study of the bee population decline in honey bee population problem man-made, '' he.!, 2016. http: //www.usda.gov/wps/portal/usda/usdahome? contentid=2016/05/0114.xml, Wright, Matthew of chemicals called.. A 501 ( c ) ( 3 ) nonprofit organization in hives beginning in when... From operations with five colonies, but 5 % of honey-producing hives lost in a decade. Near threatened sadly, Indias Apis dorsata numbers have dropped by 20 percent in just 10 years pollination in! And another 31 bee species are near threatened working as a veterinarian and diverse! Used exclusively for commercially-grown crops in North America keeps dwindling absolutely essential for the decline of website. Only that, but 5 % of their colonies and spreads it all. Important positive news for bees begin in California for almond production, McArt said is why beekeepers their. Of 30 % and 90 % our choice of vegetables and fruits to half among...