The American Bee Journal (ABJ) and Bee Culture just released the preliminary results of the annual U.S. Beekeeping Survey and the news is not good.

"U.S. beekeepers lost an estimated 55.1 percent of their managed bee colonies in 2023-24--14.8 percentage points higher than the 13-year average annual loss rate of 40.3 percent," ABJ reported. These statistics indicate the highest colony losses since the 2010-11 beekeeping season.  Commercial beekeepers managing more than 500 colonies reported the heaviest losses.

Auburn University and Apiary Inspectors of America designed the 2023-24 survey and provided insight.  

“Backyard beekeepers traditionally experience greater losses than commercial beekeepers, but this time around it was flipped," said Geoff Williams, an associate professor at Auburn University and director of the Auburn University Bee Lab.  

"In 2023-24, commercial beekeepers lost 55.7 percent of their managed colonies, which is 16.8 percentage points higher than their 13-year average of 38.9 percent," ABJ reported. The survey did not investigate the cause of the losses. Varroa mites, however, are "always a problem."

The 2023-24 survey statistics are available on the Apiary Inspectors of America website at apiaryinspectors.org/US-beekeeping-survey.

California Master Beekeeper Program. Interested in learning more about honey bees or becoming a master beekeeper? The California Master Beekeeper Program (CAMBP), founded and directed by bee scientist Ellna Lastro Niño, associate professor of Cooperative Extension and a faculty member of the Department of Entomology and Nematology, offers classes and certifies its students through its Ambassador, Apprentice, Journey, and Master levels. CAMBP has disseminated "science-based beekeeping information through a network of organizations and trained volunteers since 2016." 

Meanwhile, we're in the dead of winter, and honey bees are tucked in their hives, awaiting warmer weather. Today we noticed a few worker bees taking advantage of a "sun break" to forage on winter blossoms, Anisodontea sp. "Strybing Beauty" from the mallow family, Malvaceae. Both the plant and the bees are non-natives.