Friday, May 9, 2008

Honeybees: 36% of commercial hives lost since last year

That's since last year. This is only the second year the Apiary Inspectors of America has measured losses from year to year, but even without long-term data this can't be good. Last year's losses were 32%. Most of the deaths both years were due to Colony Collapse Disorder.

From a report yesterday from the Associated Press:
"For two years in a row, we've sustained a substantial loss," [Dennis vanEngelsdorp, president of the association] said. "That's an astonishing number. Imagine if one out of every three cows, or one out of every three chickens, were dying. That would raise a lot of alarm."
Honeybees are crucial to crop and garden pollination.
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5 comments:

  1. The Baklava QueenMay 9, 2008 at 8:14 AM

    I noticed very few -- if any -- honeybees buzzing around the crabapples while they were in full bloom last week. It was very unsettling to walk under those trees and NOT HEAR BUZZING. Somehow that gentle drone seems the natural accompaniment to the luscious fragrance... and the trees weren't the same without it. I hope I just came across a few anomalous trees!

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  2. seamonsterrrMay 9, 2008 at 5:27 PM

    Another reason why I decided to become a backyard beekeeper last year. In Westwood! Try it wherever you are, people even keep bees in Manhattan.

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  3. VeeMay 15, 2008 at 11:24 AM

    Lise has a great article about fostering solitary bees at http://www.dry-ideas.com/2008/05/make-your-own-solitary-bee-house.html

    Val

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  4. AnonymousMay 20, 2008 at 2:07 AM

    It is an absolute catastrophe, and its sure not getting nearly enough attention.

    I'm seeing bees in Washington, but they are not the regular honeybee.

    I have an older post on my blog about Hagen Dazs corporate sponsorship and some of the research, but wow we are headed for trouble............

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  5. valereeeMay 20, 2008 at 7:37 AM

    Baklava Queen, I've been watching for bees this year and have seen only bumble bees.

    Maryl, was it a lot of work? I'd love to have honeybees.

    Val, that's a great article on solitary bees! I'm going to do a post linkig to it!

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