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ARS Home » Northeast Area » Beltsville, Maryland (BARC) » Beltsville Agricultural Research Center » Bee Research Laboratory » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #309985
Title: A national survey of managed honey bee 2013-2014 annual colony losses in the USA: Results from the Bee Informed Partnership

Author
item LEE, KATHLEEN - University Of Minnesota
item STEINHAUER, NATHALIE - University Of Maryland
item RENNICH, KAREN - University Of Maryland
item WILSON, MICHAEL - University Of Tennessee
item TARPY, DAVID - North Carolina State University
item CARON, DEWEY - Oregon State University
item ROSE, ROBYN - Animal And Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS)
item DELAPLANE, KEITH - University Of Georgia
item BAYLIS, KATHY - University Of Illinois
item LENGERICH, EUGENE - Pennsylvania State University
item Pettis, Jeffery
item SKINNER, JOHN - University Of Tennessee
item WILKES, JAMES - Appalachian State University
item VANENGELSDORP, DENNIS - University Of Maryland

Submitted to: Apidologie
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 2/15/2015
Publication Date: 4/15/2015
Citation: Lee, K.V., Steinhauer, N., Rennich, K., Wilson, M.E., Tarpy, D.R., Caron, D.M., Rose, R., Delaplane, K.S., Baylis, K., Lengerich, E.J., Pettis, J.S., Skinner, J.A., Wilkes, J.T., Vanengelsdorp, D. 2015. A national survey of managed honey bee 2013-2014 annual colony losses in the USA: Results from the Bee Informed Partnership. Apidologie. 46:292-305.

Interpretive Summary: The Bee Informed Partnership conducted a survey of beekeepers about colony loss from April 2013 to April 2014. This is the eighth year surveying colony loss over the winter in the U.S. and the second year summer and annual losses have been reported. There were 7,425 respondents that managed 497,855 colonies, this makes up 18.9% of all U.S. managed colonies. Total losses were 19.8% over the summer, 23.7% over the winter and 34.1% over the 12 month period. The average losses were 15.1% over the summer, 44.8% over the winter and 51.1% over the 12 month period. Honey bee colony losses continue and this survey helps to define causes associated with colony loss; the information is useful to stakeholders, policy makers and the general public.

Technical Abstract: The Bee Informed Partnership conducted a survey to ask beekeepers about honey bee colony losses from April 2013 to April 2014. This is the eighth year surveying US colony winter losses and the second year summer and annual losses have been reported. On 1 October 2013, there were 7,425 valid respondents (7,123 backyard, 190 sideline, and 112 commercial beekeepers) managing 497,855 colonies, which comprises about 18.9% of the total US colonies. Total losses reported were 19.8% [95% CI: 19.3-20.3%] over the summer, 23.7% [95% CI: 23.3-24.1%] over the winter, and 34.1% [95% CI: 33.6-34.6%] over the 12 month period between 1 April 2013 and 1 April 2014. Average losses were 15.1% [95% CI: 14.5-15.7%] over the summer, 44.8% [95% CI: 43.9-45.7%] over the winter, and 51.1% [95% CI: 50.2-51.6%] annual. The self-reported average acceptable winter loss was the highest ever reported of 19%, with 66% of respondents exceeding their own perceived acceptable winter loss level.