A statistical overview of the decline of the Honey Bee population. The total number of managed honey bee colonies has decreased from 5 million in the 1940s to about 2.66 million today, according to a USDA-National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) survey. This type of monitoring will ensure beekeepers are proactive about bee protection and their overall hive health. honeybee populations experienced sporadic disappearances over the last century, before hitting a 20-year high in 2015 . Although effective in killing insects harmful to the crops, they are also deadly to bees. 800. Currently, theres been a significant bumblebee decline in all of Europe, with, 24% of bumblebees being threatened with extinction. China is the leading importer covering 40% of all the EUs honey imports, while Ukraine covers 20%. Findings reveal that 150 bee species populations are declining (7.7%), 244 are stable (12.6%), and 13 are increasing (0.7%). There are several reasons, both known and unknown, leading to such drastic bee deaths. Since 2006, commercial beekeepers in the United States have reported honey bee colony loss rates averaging 30 percent each winter startling, when compared to historical loss rates of 10 to 15 percent. The most common reason is the, bees losing a lot of their habitat because of farming and urbanization, Get a beehive and become a hobby beekeeper, Create a watering hole for bees in your yard, Sign one of the many petitions supporting the bees. While both statements highlight historical data . In 2021, there were approximately 2.7 million honey bee . They simply dont realize their tremendous importance not only in the farming industry but in nature in general. "Honey bees are one of the most important agricultural commodities in the country," Geoff Williams, an assistant professor of entomology at Auburn University who also serves on the board of directors for the Bee Informed Partnership, told ABC News. An analysis of a global dataset of collected and observed bees shows that fewer species are being found in most recent decades. Remember, you will need your unique survey code to sign in. On those continents, researchers monitor and report the losses of honey bees thoroughly12OPERA Bee health working group: Bee health in Europe- Facts and figures http://www.pollinator.org/PDFs/OPERAReport.pdf.We provide the following information about other parts of the world, such as South America, India, China and Africa: The only published data on colony losses in were reported in Brazil, Uruguay and Argentina. . Its honey production has more than doubled over the last 40 years. And it is costing you money. Data from the U.S. Department of Agriculture's National Agricultural Statistics Service point to general strengths in honey bee colonies: "In 2017, the United States had 2.88 million honey bee colonies, down 12 percent from the record high 3.28 million colonies in 2012, but down less than 1 percent from 2007," the agency said. The bee population decline in the US has been happening for a long time. 70 percent of . The states that experienced the lowest portion of losses were Indiana and South Carolina, with an 11.8% loss, and Nebraska, with a 13.6% loss. Honey bee decline statistics. They range from needing minimal contribution to providing most of the pollination process. Sign up with your email address to receive news and updates about our programs. ","acceptedAnswer":{"@type":"Answer","text":"There are several reasons, both known and unknown, leading to such drastic bee deaths. Then a couple of years back, after a casual read about farm animals on the internet (yea, he does that), he realized that many of the articles are either false or misleading. Research on the possible causes of honey bee population decline is currently ongoing, and there has been progress! From the general public speaking out against harmful pesticides to significant companies and governments making changes, slowly but surely, well see improvement in future years. ","acceptedAnswer":{"@type":"Answer","text":"There are many ways you can help the bee population increase. The new data comes from a paper published in the journal The Royal Society on Wednesday, July 29. Wisconsin's honey production has been falling for years. Pollinators also support healthy ecosystems needed for clean air, stable soils, and a diverse wildlife. Secure .gov websites use HTTPS This represents an increase of 9.6% over the prior year's winter loss and is roughly 4% higher than the previous 14-year average rate of loss. Meanwhile Jennifer Sass of the Natural . (FAO) Studies show that out of all the bee species' populations, 7.7% are declining, 12.6% are stable, and 0.7% are increasing; but for the majority (79%), this data remains unknown. Unfortunately, it wasnt, and the numbers continued to drop over the years. The largest contributor to the decline of bee health is the varroa mite, a parasite that invades hives and and spreads diseases, McArt said. Not only that, but 5% of Europes bee species are near threatened. That's more than 20% of honey-producing hives lost in a single decade. By clicking Accept All, you consent to the use of ALL the cookies. In 2008, U.S. honey bee colonies totaled 2.3 million, the lowest on record. Other provinces with reduced production are Manitoba (a drop of 1.9%) and Saskatchewan (a decline of 1.4%). Honey bee losses of more than 30% annually have been reported by Michigan beekeepers over the past few years, with the 2013/2014 winter poised to be even worse. Contact a specialist. Scientists are continuing to research the effects different types of pesticides and application methods are having on the health of the bees. Worse, this was the lowest honey production for Canada in seven years. Experts blame environmental pressures like deforestation and forest fires. 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. Bees have been endangered for decades now, and the chart above depicts just how much the number of bee hives in the Unites States has declined since the mid 1900s. Four out of the five principal honey bee species live in India, reflecting a relatively healthy biodiversity. Results from these projects will help preserve pollinator populations and promote continued improvement in crop yields and the environment. Bees and other pollinators, including birds, bats, butterflies, moths, flies, wasps, beetles, and small mammals, play a critical role in our food production system. In Asia and the Middle East, on the other hand, beekeeping has been growing majorly. One of every three bites of food eaten . , Mar 25, 2022. Top 10 Most Crucial Bee Statistics and Facts to Know. Bees are responsible for most of the food we eat. 24/7 coverage of breaking news and live events. There are over 20,000 bee species worldwide, and the majority are wild. Winter losses have been huge since then. 4. According to U.N. Food and Agriculture Organization statistics, the world's honeybee population rose to 80 million colonies in 2011 from 50 million in 1960.". Bee statistics from 2019 revealed that the European Union produces approximately 230,000 tons of honey yearly from 17.5 million beehives managed by 650,000 beekeepers. Did you know that if the bees disappeared, it would leave us with minimal food sources at skyrocketing prices? Section 207(f)(2) of the E-Government Act of 2002 requires federal agencies to develop an inventory of information to be published on their Web sites, establish a schedule for publishing information, make those schedules available for public comment, and post the schedules and priorities on the Web site. Since 2010, the US honey bee population has declined from 25% to 45% due to air pollution. Bee populations in the United States are declining at a rapid, unprecedented rate. Bees feed on honey. They pollinate most of the crops we eat, so wed have almost no food without them. Through 2008, bee disease and elevated overwinter losses contributed to declining colony counts. Bees feed on honey. "This will become one of the largest honeybee health networks in the country," said Boris Baer, a professor of entomology at UC Riverside and principal investigator . Before we begin, here are the top 10 statistics on the subject that you absolutely must know! These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. Slovenia proposed May 20th be official World Bee Day in light of what is happening to the bees. The model suggests that colony failure can be understood in terms of observed principles of honey bee population . A single bee colony can pollinate 300 million flowers in a day. We use cookies on our website to give you the most relevant experience by remembering your preferences and repeat visits. . Currently, theres been a significant bumblebee decline in all of Europe, with24% of bumblebees being threatened with extinction. The Environmental Protection Agency has released the most important positive news for bees. One of the principal reasons for the decline of the bee population is neonicotinoids and their effects on bees. Nearly all states experience dramatic bee losses yearly. Recently, there has been a dangerous decline in their population. Small bee species (ITS <2.25 mm) were influenced by the presence of managed honey bees. Regardless, wild pollinators have proven to be twice as effective as managed honey bees in producing fruit and seeds for crops. Honey bees are essential for the pollination of flowers, fruits and vegetables, and support about $20 billion worth of crop production in the U.S. annually, Matthew Mulica, senior project manager at the Keystone Policy Center, a consulting company that works with the Honey Bee Health Coalition, told ABC News. Sadly, Indias Apis dorsata numbers have dropped by 20 percent in just 10 years. The total annual value of U.S. honey bee products and services sold is approximately $700 million. The number of honeybee colonies lost to colony collapse disorder was 59,900 from January to March 2019. 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. Current scientific research indicates that parasites, and the diseases they carry, are the main threat to the lives of honey bees. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Analytics". Posted by Robert M. Nowierski, PhD, NIFA National Program Leader for Bio-based Pest Management in, More, Better, and New Market Opportunities, Honeybee Hive Monitoring System for Varroa Mite Management & Honey Bee Health, Using Vaccines to Increase Pollinator Health: Testing a Honey Bee Nosema Vaccine, Quantifying the Intersections Between Neonicotinoid Insecticide Use for Seed Treatments and Foraging Honey Bees, National Institute of Food and Agriculture. Emily Erickson,graduate student of Entomology at Penn State helped research and write this post. If you find a tired, dying bee, mix water and sugar in a tablespoon to give it an energy boost. Some scientists are questioning whether global climate change has anything to do with the . 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. There are several reasons, both known and unknown, leading to such drastic bee deaths be. Declined from 25 % to 45 % due to air pollution of honey-producing lost. May 20th be official World bee Day in light of what is happening to the use of all EUs... Indicates that parasites, and a diverse wildlife current scientific research indicates that,! Of pesticides and application methods are having on the health of the crops, they are also deadly bees! 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