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Honey bee colony losses steady as beekeepers manage through stressors

The USDA says varroa mite damage increased in honey bee colonies last year, but beekeepers have been able to manage their way through it.

Tony Dorn with USDA NASS says the number of colonies dropped less than half of one percent from January 2017 to 2018 because beekeepers are continuing to split colonies and make up for losses throughout the year. However, during the first quarter of 2017, “The number of colonies lost was 398,650 which is 15 percent of the total colonies.”  Dorn says that number inched up to 16 percent for the same period this year.

Beekeepers say varroa mite is the largest stressor, affecting about half of all colonies. Colonies with symptoms of colony collapse disorder increased by 15 percent during the first quarter of 2018 compared to the same time last year.

Beekeepers split colonies and adjust management practices to overcome stress factors including parasites, colony collapse disorder and pesticide exposure.