Record-Setting Honeybee Die-Off in the US Destroys 1.6 Million Colonies

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00:00Record-setting honeybee die-off in the U.S. destroys 1.6 million colonies.

00:05Between June 2024 and March 2025, U.S. beekeepers faced a severe die-off,

00:12a Project APIS-M survey of 702 respondents.

00:17Covering 1.835 million colonies, 68% of U.S. bees revealed a 62% average colony loss.

00:24This threatens crop pollination, agriculture, and the survival of some businesses.

00:33Project APIS-M reported a $224.8 million colony loss, affecting crops like almonds, apples, and berries.

00:43With 75% of flowering plants and 35% of food crops needing pollinators, shortages and price hikes loom.

00:50USDA outsourced pesticide analysis to Cornell amid budget cuts.

00:59Professor McCart and his team are examining 500 samples to find chemical residues.

01:04Early tests suggest neonicotinoid pesticides could be a factor.

01:08Normally, 10-20% of colonies die in winter,

01:12but now colony collapse disorder sees half-perishing, intensifying over 20 years.

01:17Researchers at Cornell are investigating extreme weather, climate change, nutrition, handling, diseases, and pests impacting honeybee colonies.

01:27McCart noted worsening losses and suspects multiple stress factors, including a potential virus, but requires data confirmation.

01:35Recent honeybee die-offs have led to increased beehive theft, especially in Northern California for almond pollination.

01:45Deputy Rowdy Freeman describes it as beekeepers stealing from other beekeepers, with stolen hives rarely recovered.

01:53Beekeeper Traver Towser, facing honeybee die-offs and thefts, described it as violating.

01:59To combat this, beekeepers are branding hives and using hidden tracking devices to prevent theft and protect their investments.