Half of Bee Colonies Lost Last Year
By LindaOH
@LindaOHio (222417)
United States
June 23, 2023 8:35am CST
48% of bee colonies were lost in the last year ending April 1, 2023. Parasites, pesticides, starvation and climate change were the main reasons for the losses. A 21% loss over winter is acceptable; but it was much higher this last winter.
Bees are crucial to our food supply, pollinating more than 100 crops, including vegetables, citrus, berries, nuts and melons.
The outlook is not as grim as in past years because beekeepers have learned how to bounce back from big losses. In spite of last year's losses, the number of United States honeybee colonies "remained relatively stable".
Photo Credit: Pixabay
11 people like this
11 responses
@LindaOHio (222417)
• United States
23 Jun 23
Here's what the internet says: focusing on just almonds, or just any other one crop for that matter, prevents bees from getting the diversity of nutrients they need to be healthy, which makes them more vulnerable to disease and pesticides.
1 person likes this
@LadyDuck (502491)
• Italy
24 Jun 23
@LindaOHio - I have also researched. ยท One of the most widely applied pesticides is the herbicide glyphosate (Roundup), which is a staple of large-scale almond crops. And almond milk is not even healthy. Bad for babies because It is a poor source of protein, fat, and nutrients important for an infant's growth and development. Add to this that most processed varieties contain additives like sugar, salt, flavors, gums, and carrageenan. People are crazy.
1 person likes this
@LindaOHio (222417)
• United States
24 Jun 23
@LadyDuck My husband uses Roundup which makes me crazy because it causes cancer.
1 person likes this
@dgobucks226 (37621)
•
24 Jun 23
Aha, more bee facts to enjoy 
Bees definitely have a lot of predators. Those honey loving bears among them.
Bees definitely have a lot of predators. Those honey loving bears among them.1 person likes this
@LindaOHio (222417)
• United States
24 Jun 23
Bears are getting more and more bold. Breaking into homes and autos for food.
1 person likes this
@dgobucks226 (37621)
•
25 Jun 23
@LindaOHio Yes, a problem in NJ too. The Governor baned the bear hunting season causing the population to grow here. The increased population provides them with no habitat to live. A real problem.
1 person likes this
@LindaOHio (222417)
• United States
26 Jun 23
@dgobucks226 Poor bears. What a problem.
1 person likes this
@LindaOHio (222417)
• United States
24 Jun 23
Yes. I agree. Thank you for your comment.
1 person likes this
@DaddyEvil (174500)
• United States
23 Jun 23
I read some scientific reports that said the native wild bees and other pollinating insects could fill in the gaps of missing tame honeybees in pollination of our crops.
https://www.lsuagcenter.com/profiles/lblack/articles/page1623256238310#:~:text=An%20entomologist%20at%20Cornell%20University,more%20interested%20in%20the%20nectar.
1 person likes this
@LindaOHio (222417)
• United States
23 Jun 23
Good to know. Thanks for the link.
1 person likes this
@RasmaSandra (98033)
• Daytona Beach, Florida
23 Jun 23
We had a hive in the small attic space above our garage in Latvia and I loved seeing the bees buzzing about the garden in the summer,
1 person likes this
@RasmaSandra (98033)
• Daytona Beach, Florida
26 Jun 23
@LindaOHio they were no bother we did our thing and they did theirs
1 person likes this
@LindaOHio (222417)
• United States
23 Jun 23
It looks like they have it under control.
1 person likes this
@LindaOHio (222417)
• United States
23 Jun 23
I know. They are definitely toxic to humans too.
1 person likes this
@LindaOHio (222417)
• United States
24 Jun 23
They need to use less pesticides. Safer options are needed.
1 person likes this
@1creekgirl (44560)
• United States
23 Jun 23
Most of us don't realize how important bees are.
1 person likes this
@LindaOHio (222417)
• United States
24 Jun 23
Yes. We need to use safer pesticides.
1 person likes this
@sallypup (69181)
• Centralia, Washington
24 Jun 23
That's scary. My nearest neighbor has a super tidy yard; some flowering shrubs BUT he also has a large container of Round Up. Oh please don't let the winds blow that crap onto my property. That product has been shown to cause cancer etc. Weeds help pollinators.
1 person likes this
@LindaOHio (222417)
• United States
24 Jun 23
My husband uses it even though I've told him not to.
1 person likes this
