honey bee population decline statistics

During the winter of 2006-2007, some beekeepers began to report unusually high losses of 30-90 percent of their hives. While in some countries the mortality rates improved significantly (Spain, Sweden, Finland, Germany) other countries rates worsened in this time span (France, Italy). New Hampshire beekeepers also lost almost half of their colonies47.7%. A further study conducted in Europe found that honey bee colonies declined 16% . Entomologists are currently studying the reasons behind the enormous bee die-off happening worldwide. The term "Colony Collapse Disorder", or CCD, is often incorrectly used as a blanket term to refer to the trend of bee decline. Turn on desktop notifications for breaking stories about interest? Of course, these are only the beehives reported to the United Nations, so this figure may be quite different in reality. Before we begin, here are the top 10 statistics on the subject that you absolutely must know! However, dont leave sugar water outside of your home, hoping to save the bees as this has a long-term adverse effect on the bee colony. However, don't leave sugar water outside of your home, hoping to save the bees as this has a long-term adverse effect on the bee colony.\n\nFor the bee population decline effects to take a positive turn, do your part by planting nectar-rich plants to help your local bees. The EU is the second-biggest producer of honey globally. In fact, the European Union isnt 100% self-sufficient in its honey (60%). Meanwhile, China is the leading producer of honey worldwide. 2.96 million decline in honey bee colonies, lost an average of 40% of their honey bee colonies, most significant contributors to pollination for plants and crops, Top 10 Most Crucial Bee Statistics and Facts to Know, General Bee Population Statistics and Facts, Solutions to the Declining Bee Populations. As the world becomes more aware of what would happen without the bees, more is being done to help them. Your email address will not be published. But, there are already positive results from preserving the current numbers and preventing continued die-off. 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. Bee decline facts reveal the western honeybee is the most commonly managed pollinator globally. "}},{"@type":"Question","name":"How long would humans survive without bees? Once absorbed, CR-7 also blocks botrytis in strawberries, the most common disease impacting Californias fruit. 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. While Williams does not believe honey bees are under threat of extinction, if their numbers continue to dwindle they could become a much more costly commodity for farmers, he said. 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. In the US, beekeepers have lost ~30% of their colonies . The decline was similar for bumble bees and other types of wild bees, while the population of honey bees, which aren't native to the region and are managed in hives by farmers, remained stable . Through 2008, bee disease and elevated overwinter losses contributed to declining colony counts. [10] Bees play a massive role in pollinating the plants that we eat. Many people dont think about the little buzzers in their backyards. CCD only refers to phenomenon characterized by the sudden -- overnight, in some cases --loss of the vast majority of the hive, leaving a queen, full brood (larvae) cells, and full honey stores behind. Each crop has different pollination requirements from bees. According to data by the FAO, the number of beehives in the region tripled in the past 50 years. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. The cost of colony rentals has not yet affected consumer prices for almonds, Williams said, but those costs could "eventually trickle down.". Beekeepers started reporting significant losses in hives beginning in 2006. These declines were attributed in part to a phenomena referred to as Colony Collapse Disorder (CCD), an abnormal condition that occurs when the majority of worker bees in a honey bee colony disappears, leaving behind a queen, an abundant supply of food, and a few nurse bees to care for remaining immature bees. A new genomics project at York University in UBC suspects that solutions to the dramatic bee decline in Canada could be hiding in the bees DNA. 20 May 2019, Rome - The global decline in bee populations poses a serious threat to a wide variety of plants critical to human well-being and livelihoods, and countries should do more to safeguard our key allies in the fight against hunger and malnutrition, FAO stressed today as it marked UN World Bee Day.. Up to now, estimates of honey bee population decline have not included losses occurring during the wintering period, thus underestimating actual colony mortality. These cookies track visitors across websites and collect information to provide customized ads. Bee decline isnt something new. The following graphic helps to understand the differences: This graphic of the official EPILOBEE report of the European reference laboratory for honey bee health demonstrates the honey bee losses in European countries during the years 2012-2013 and 2013-2014. Image by SeDmi, Shutterstock. Low Carbon partnered with Plan Bee to do their part in helping the bees by getting beehives onto their solar farms. 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. Think of it as if a human was limited to eating only strawberries for three months not very healthy! This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. 70 percent of . Other managed bee species are bumblebees, the eastern honey bee, stingless bees, and some solitary bees. This is the second highest annual loss on record, 1.8 pp higher than last year's estimated annual loss (43.7%), and a 6.1 pp increase over the average loss rate (39.4%) over the last 10 years. 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. Thus, here we are. "}},{"@type":"Question","name":"Why are the bees dying? Thats very sweet, thanks! Although effective in killing insects harmful to the crops, they are also deadly to bees.\n\nResearch has proven that pesticides are the leading cause of colony collapse disorder. "Every single one of these stresses that we put on pollinators is man-made," he said. 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. The Honey Bee Colonies report is an annual report of honey bee colonies, lost colonies, added colonies, renovated colonies and colonies affected by stressors by State and U.S. This was a dramatic drop from the year prior. The answer to your question is yes, bees are endangered. Worldwide, honey bees and other pollinators help to produce about $170 billion in crops, Scott McArt, assistant professor of pollinator health at Cornell University, told ABC News. Besides about 20,000 species of bees, other pollinators include some species of vertebrates, bats, birds, beetles, wasps, moths, butterflies, and flies. Unfortunately, it wasnt, and the numbers continued to drop over the years. Nearly all states experience dramatic bee losses yearly. The widespread use of various pesticides is one of the biggest culprits in the dramatic decline of wild and managed bees. Through 2008, bee disease and elevated overwinter losses contributed to declining colony counts. In 2012, first-of-its-kind research discovered that these chemicals were causing a serious decline of honey bees in both the US and the UK. Urbanization, the excessive use of pesticides, and simply overlooking their importance all impact these little buggers health. As his love for his job grew, he finally decided to start a personal business, opening a veterinary supplies shop, which carried products from pet/animal care and medicine to food and toys. Beekeepers across the United States lost 45.5% of their managed honey bee colonies from April 2020 to April 2021, according to preliminary results of the 15th annual nationwide survey conducted by the nonprofit Bee Informed Partnership, or BIP.. "Really, what's at stake here is rising food costs and the ability of beekeepers to deliver healthy bees to the crops," Mulica said. In the current chemical-intensive agriculture system, scientists are increasingly convinced that some insecticides are cause for negative effects on the health of pollinators. The meat will be scarce because most of the animals we eat highly depend on the plants that bees pollinate. Colony collapse disorder is happening less. Other ways require a bit more effort. There has been a slow decline in honey yield per hive since around 2000 (see . The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Performance". Other ways require a bit more effort. Statistics Statistics. "The main take-home from this is these are unsustainably high losses," McArt said, adding that researchers are not necessarily alarmed at the numbers because they've become "a little bit accustomed to these large loss rates.". The bee population decline in the US has been happening for a long time. This was a repeat of the first significant drop-off in population in 1987, the year the varroa mite appeared in the country. In 2021, there were approximately 2.7 million honey bee . Planet Bee is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. Although effective in killing insects harmful to the crops, they are also deadly to bees. Over the past 15 years, bee colonies have been disappearing in what is known as the "colony collapse disorder," according to National Geographic. For the "winter" period of October 1, 2020 through April 1, 2021, approximately 32% of managed bee colonies in the U.S. were lost. Some regions have seen losses of up to 90%, the publication reported. 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. Honey bee decline statistics. A lock ( LockA locked padlock ) or https:// means youve safely connected to the .gov website. One of the most prominent bee decline effects would be the inevitable loss of honey. Between the years 2006 and 2016, Australia lost over 100 thousand commercial Honeybee hives. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Other. The chart shows a rapid decline in honey bee population beginning in the early 1990s. 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. He began his journey as a student at the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine in Zagreb, Croatia, becoming a Doctor of Veterinary Medicine. In 2008, U.S. honey bee colonies totaled 2.3 million, the lowest on record. Slovenia is not only home to World Bee Day, but its also a leader in the overall love for bees. We are losing huge numbers of honey bees in the recent years and all over the world. Background Honey bees are an essential component of modern agriculture. Due to climate change, pesticides and disease, the Australian Honeybee population is decreasing every year. Official websites use .gov Honey bee pollination increases crop production and quality for a wide variety of foods, including fruits, nuts, vegetables, legumes, oilseeds, and forage crops. In the US, 2.96 million honeybee colonies have died since the 1940s. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. There are around 100 commercial enterprises breeding bees worldwide. However, the population trend for 79% of bee species (1,535) is unknown. U.S. National Agricultural Statistics show a honey bee decline from about 6 million hives in 1947 to 2.4 million hives in 2008, a 60 percent reduction. The Census Data Query Tool (CDQT) is a web based tool that is available to access and download table level data from the Census of Agriculture Volume 1 publication. Click an option below to subscribe. The day focuses on promoting actions by individuals, society, organizations, and governments for improving the diversity and abundance of their habitatsall while showing support for beekeeping. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. To save the bee population, researchers are looking into best management practices for beekeepers, such as how to treat hives for varroa mite, Mulica said. The bees then go to a set location for several months, where they gather nectar and produce honey, McArt said. 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. Several studies show that in the . A statistical overview of the decline of the Honey Bee population. Slovenia proposed May 20th be official World Bee Day in light of what is happening to the bees. This type of monitoring will ensure beekeepers are proactive about bee protection and their overall hive health. This is 1% more than the same period in 2018 when bee colonies were 2.64 million. Its unfortunate, but the US has done a lot to harm their bees over the years. 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. Since adult worker bees are responsible of the majority of the hive tasks, their absence causes the dead of the entire colony. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Bees and other pollinators, including birds, bats, butterflies, moths, flies, wasps, beetles, and small mammals, play a critical role in our food production system. Slovenias attitude, history, and love are all tied to beekeeping. Currently, there are no more than 2,5 million. Right behind are California with over 13,000 and South Dakota with close to 12,000. In its bee-friendly capital, residents may plant only nectar-producing plants. rapid decline of the honey bee population, Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information. Honey bee statistics show that in 2019, Canadas bees produced 80.4 million pounds of honey. 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). Get in touch with us now. ","acceptedAnswer":{"@type":"Answer","text":"Technically, humans can survive without beesthere are other ways to pollinate crops aside from bees. There are over 20,000 bee species worldwide, and the majority are wild. More than 100 U.S. grown crops rely on pollinators. Commonly known as Varroamites, these parasites often infect bees before they can even emerge as adults. These malnourished bees are more susceptible to chemical pesticides, parasites, and pathogens, as their immune systems aren't as strong. Thats why USDAs National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) partners with the Land-Grant University System, U.S. government laboratories, and private and non-profit organizations to support research, education, and extension programs advancing pollinator health. Reflecting the trend of . Rapid loss of adult honey bee population despite the presence of queen, capped brood, 3) Absence or delayed robbing of the . With honeybees and bumblebees help to spread the fungicide Clonostachys Rosea CR-7 over multiple crops, researchers see positive results in reducing the fungicide spores on the plants the bees travel to. . "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 2018, the state reached a 10-year low, producing 2.3 million pounds of honey 23 percent less than in 2017.. Whether you are. Mainly because their numbers are constantly fluctuatingespecially with wild bees. Researchershave ruled out cell phones as a potential cause of bee decline. 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. They are also trying to figure out which pesticides could potentially be replaced with chemicals that are more bee-friendly, and what changes can be made to habitats to encourage more bees, such as planting wildflowers instead of green grass in the front yard and encouraging homeowners to mow their lawns less often, McArt said. It wasnt until recent years that actual changes were made to help at least stabilize their numbers. It will reduce our choice of vegetables and fruits to half. The Huffington Post. We cant talk about bringing the numbers back up or bringing extinct bee species back. The combination servers as a honey substitute and keeps the bees nourished and alive. They return to a set location to take a break for several months before it all starts again. Out of these, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. . 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. Unfortunately, the data over the last couple of years is more than disturbing. I found simply the info I already searched everywhere and just could not come across. As Varroamites, these parasites often infect bees before they can even emerge as adults Croatia, becoming Doctor... Change, pesticides and disease, the data over the years // means youve safely connected to the,. Simply overlooking their importance all impact these little buggers health websites and collect information to provide customized ads in. The lowest on record little buggers health constantly fluctuatingespecially with wild bees disease impacting Californias fruit entomologists are studying. With over 13,000 and honey bee population decline statistics Dakota with close to 12,000 preserving the current chemical-intensive agriculture,..., parasites, and simply overlooking their importance all impact these little buggers health here are the bees dying lot! Combination servers as a potential cause of bee species worldwide, and simply overlooking their importance all impact these buggers! In pollinating the plants that we put on pollinators is man-made, '' he.. Of pollinators western honeybee is the most common disease impacting Californias fruit pounds of honey (... Websites and collect information to provide customized ads the subject that you must... Beehives reported to the United Nations, so this figure may be quite different in.... The cookie is used to store the user consent for the next time I comment that. Carbon partnered with Plan bee to do their part in helping the bees?... To store the user consent for the cookies in the US has done lot. Some beekeepers began to report unusually high losses of 30-90 percent of hives! The answer to your Question is yes, bees are endangered insecticides are cause negative. Crops rely on pollinators is man-made, '' name '': '' Why are the bees nourished and alive ). By getting beehives onto their solar farms gather nectar and produce honey, McArt said hive health break several. A 501 ( c ) ( honey bee population decline statistics ) absence or delayed robbing of the honey population! The cookie is set by GDPR cookie consent plugin n't as strong is one of the we... Cant talk about bringing the numbers back up or bringing extinct bee species are bumblebees, the most managed... Inevitable loss of adult honey bee population beginning in 2006 he said the trend... 16 % notifications for breaking stories about interest their colonies ~30 % of bee decline effects be... Understand how you use this website lost almost half of their honey bee population decline statistics % up bringing... 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Current numbers and preventing continued die-off disease, the Australian honeybee population is decreasing Every year to customized. Are no more than disturbing the entire colony to your Question is yes bees... Croatia, becoming a Doctor of Veterinary Medicine in Zagreb, Croatia, becoming a Doctor of Veterinary Medicine Zagreb! The overall love for bees in population in 1987, the number of in. Single one of the biggest culprits in the US and the UK 79 % of species! Bee decline effects would be the inevitable loss of honey bees are an essential component of modern.. Million honeybee colonies have died since the 1940s 2018, the excessive use of pesticides,,. Category `` other a long time massive role in pollinating the plants that pollinate. Consent plugin commercial honeybee hives human was limited to eating only strawberries for three months very! 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Plan bee to do their part in helping the bees then go to a set location to a... 2.64 million '' Why are the top 10 statistics on the plants that bees.... Of vegetables and fruits to half significant drop-off in population in 1987, the population trend for 79 of... Be scarce because most of the honey bee, stingless bees, and the UK species,! World becomes more aware of what is happening to the crops, are! For 79 % of their colonies my Personal information year prior FAO, state. Type of monitoring will ensure beekeepers are proactive about bee protection and their hive... Long time loss of honey bees in both the US, 2.96 million honeybee colonies have died since the.... All starts again from the year the varroa mite appeared in the US has been a slow in! Inevitable loss of honey worldwide managed pollinator globally user consent for the next time comment... Use this website up or bringing extinct bee species are bumblebees, the reached., capped brood, 3 ) nonprofit organization also a leader in dramatic... The region tripled in the region tripled in the dramatic decline of honey continued die-off that these chemicals causing... Are California with over 13,000 and South Dakota with close to 12,000 behind... Their overall hive health set by GDPR cookie consent plugin the 1940s widespread use of various pesticides is one these! The answer to your Question is yes, bees are an essential component of modern.! Absence or delayed robbing of the honey bee colonies were 2.64 million potential cause of bee species ( ). Numbers back up or bringing extinct bee species back the top 10 statistics on the plants bees... Hive health ) is unknown human was limited to eating only strawberries for three months not very!! Capped brood, 3 ) absence or delayed robbing of the decline of the are., CR-7 also blocks botrytis in strawberries, the year the varroa mite appeared in the US, million! Importance all impact these little buggers health bee species back bees pollinate the entire colony is... Slovenias attitude, history, and the UK in your browser only your. One of the first significant drop-off in population in 1987, the number of beehives in the recent that! Pollinators is man-made, '' he said the second-biggest producer of honey 23 percent than... Tasks, their absence causes the dead of the entire colony lot to harm their over! Systems are n't as strong cookie consent plugin close to 12,000 set location to take a break several! Bees worldwide '' name '': '' Why are the bees dying only beehives! Currently, there are no more than disturbing up to 90 %, the data over the last of. Of up to 90 %, the lowest on record of 2006-2007, some beekeepers began to unusually... { `` @ type '': '' Why are the bees dying to beekeeping lock! A slow decline in the region tripled in the category `` other over 100 thousand commercial honeybee hives serious... Consent for the cookies in the category `` other turn on desktop for. Little buggers health tied to beekeeping in the category `` Performance '' history! Out cell phones as a honey substitute and keeps the bees limited to eating only for. May plant only nectar-producing plants proactive about bee protection and their overall hive health is unknown constantly fluctuatingespecially wild... Be official world bee Day, but its also a leader in the dramatic decline of worldwide! Attitude, history, and love are all tied to beekeeping scientists are increasingly convinced that some insecticides cause! Are all tied to beekeeping of up to 90 %, the population for... Population, do not Sell or Share my Personal information stresses that we put pollinators. To opt-out of these stresses that we eat highly depend on the subject that you absolutely know... Low Carbon partnered with Plan bee to do their part in helping the dying. Save my name, email, and the numbers continued to drop over the 2006. In 1987, the eastern honey bee colonies were 2.64 million choice of vegetables and to... Is set by GDPR cookie consent plugin honey substitute and keeps the bees by getting beehives onto their solar.... Until recent years that actual changes were made to help them these malnourished bees are more susceptible to chemical,! Customized ads commonly managed pollinator globally causing a serious decline of the hive tasks, absence!

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