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ARS Home » Northeast Area » Beltsville, Maryland (BARC) » Beltsville Agricultural Research Center » Bee Research Laboratory » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #412748
Research Project: Managing Honey Bees Against Disease and Colony Stress

Location: Bee Research Laboratory

Title: Case Report: Emerging losses of managed honey bee colonies

Author
item LAMAS, ZACHARY - US Department Of Agriculture (USDA)
item Chen, Yanping - Judy
item Evans, Jay

Submitted to: Biology
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 2/10/2024
Publication Date: 2/13/2024
Citation: Lamas, Z., Chen, Y., Evans, J.D. 2024. Case Report: Emerging losses of managed honey bee colonies. Biology. 13(2):117. https://doi.org/10.3390/biology13020117.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/biology13020117

Interpretive Summary: Honey bees face high losses on the population level, impacting beekeepers and the ability to fulfill pollination needs. Several culprits have been associated with these mass losses. Most notably, the parasitic mite Varroa destructor is a consistent suspect in periodic mass losses of honey bee colonies. Our team performed diagnostic screening of pathogens and parasites in operations that experienced extreme losses during the winter of 2023. The direct cost to replace lost colonies and the immediate economic harm imparted from severe losses are described. This information helps address the key factors in honey bee colony losses as well as the resulting impacts on the industry.

Technical Abstract: United States commercial beekeepers prepare honey bee colonies for almond pollination in California each year in late January to early February. This represents the largest managed pollination event in the world and involves more than half of all U.S. honey bee colonies. In winter 2023, numerous colonies in Florida which were graded as suitable for almonds (larger than ten frames of bees) dwindled suddenly or altogether died within several weeks, just prior to movement for almonds. The timing of these losses and the resulting morbidity caused severe economic harm to affected operations. This study reports interviews with affected stakeholders, their economic harm, and analyses of pathogens and parasites found in their colonies. Commercial operators suffered sudden loss in income, and colonies across operations showed high prevalence of pathogens and parasites.