Honey Bee Colonies See Record Losses of 44% during Past Year
May 10th, 2016
Beekeepers report catastrophic loss in annual nationwide government survey.
WASHINGTON—Beekeepers across America have lost 44 percent of their honey bee colonies from April 2015 to April 2016, according to an annual survey released today. The Bee Informed Partnership, with support from the Apiary Inspectors of America and the U.S. Department of Agriculture, released the results from its annual survey of honey bee colony losses and found that for the second year in a row colony loss numbers were above 40 percent. 2015-2016 is also the second consecutive year that summer loss rates were as high as winter loss rates.
The following is a statement from Larissa Walker, pollinator program director at Center for Food Safety:
“Bees, beekeepers and anyone who eats food are all impacted by severe declines in honey bee colonies – these consecutively high losses year after year are catastrophic to our food system.
“Scientific studies continue to link uses of pesticides to bee kills and poor colony health. This year’s survey results should be a major wake up call for regulators who have failed to tackle issues with toxic pesticides head-on. The longer the government waits to take action, the more bees and beekeepers will continue to suffer.”
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