US HONEY BEE COLONY DECLINE

Bee Informed Partnership

Beekeeper Surveys

DECLINE IN US HONEY BEE COLONIES SINCE WORLD

WAR II

1945

4.5 MILLIONCOLONIES

2015

2.7 MILLIONCOLONIES

“15% loss is the highest sustainable level for those whose living depends on

beekeeping”

Marla Spivak Dept of Entomology

University of Minnesota

“Among backyard beekeepers – defined as those who manage

fewer than 50 colonies – a clear culprit in losses is the Varroa

mite” “Backyard beekeepers were more prone to heavy mite infestations, but we believe that is because a majority of them are not taking

appropriate steps to control mites”

THE NUMBER OF BEEKEEPERS IS

DECLINING AS THE HONEY BEE POPULATION

DECLINES

Hobbyists quickly become discouraged by heavy losses

and quit beekeeping

Commercial beekeepers are an aging demographic

As aging commercial beekeepers retire they are not being replaced by new young

commercial beekeepers

“Commercial beekeepers were particularly prone to summer losses. But they typically take

more aggressive action against Varroa mites, so there must be

other factors at play.”

Dennis vanEngelsdorp Dept of Entomology

University of Maryland

PesticidesVarroa

In hivemiticides

Flowerlesslandscape

Diseases

Monocultureagriculture

Multiple, Interacting Causes of Honey Bee Deaths

TROUBLING FINDINGS: LABELING

Pesticides:Active ingredients listedInert ingredients not listed (often toxic)

Human medications:Active ingredients listedInert ingredients listed

GMO CROPS

NOT HARMFUL to honey bees

GMOs allow the use of herbicides which kill other

flowering plants

HONEY BEE NUTRITION

NECTAR - Carbohydrates

POLLEN -protein, lipids, vitamins

WATERHealthy honey bees:

- able to detoxify pesticides- better able to survive cold weather

Absence of

of flowering plants creates

“food deserts” Result:

unhealthy bees

varietiesabundant

Unhealthy honey bees:

- Less able to detoxify pesticides

- Compromised immune systems-More susceptible to

various viruses-Less hardy in both

winter & summer

RESULT:HIGH ANNUAL

COLONY MORTALITY