Survey Shows Colony Collapse Small Factor in Winter Bee Loss

Honey bee losses continue to decrease, but it’s not all due to colony collapse, according to a survey funded by the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Total bee losses for the 2012-2013 winter were 31.1 percent for all causes. That number is slightly higher from last year’s number that stood at 22 percent. Based on the survey, more colonies dwindled away instead of suffering from Colony Collapse Disorder that causes a sudden loss of a colony population. The survey noted that beekeepers who took honey bees to California to pollinate almonds reported a 50 percent or higher colony loss than those who did not. Learn more.