'Natural beekeepers' have changed their practices with less intervention and more bee-friendly conditions

The Western honey bee, Apis mellifera, is millions of years old.

(Shutterstock photo)

There’s more than one way to keep bees, including one that focuses more on leaving the bees alone. Common apiary practice includes human intervention focused on honey production, but another way exists called “natural beekeeping,” writes Sam Knight of The New Yorker in an article titled "Is Beekeeping Wrong?" “Natural beekeepers leave their bees alone. They seldom treat for disease—allowing the weaker colonies to fail—and they raise the survivors in conditions that are as close as possible to tree cavities.”

Mananged bees are kept in boxes, “as opposed to a snug nest high in a hollow tree. Most beekeepers’ colonies are much larger than those which occur in the wild, and rival colonies might be separated by only a few yards, rather than by half a mile,” Knight explains. “Much of the bees’ honey, which is supposed to get them through the winter, is taken before they have a chance to eat it.”

On balance, natural beekeeping’s foundation reflects deep respect for the Western honey bee, “which, as a species, Apis mellifera, is millions of years old. (It was introduced to North America by European settlers in the 1620s.) Although people have harvested its honey and wax—sweetness and light—for thousands of years, the honeybee has not been tamed," Knight writes. Gareth John, a natural beekeeper, told Knight: "Domestication is a mutual process. You could never domesticate a robin. Bees are the same as robins. They will quite happily live in a nest box that you give them. But they’re not dependent on you. They don’t need you.”

Natural beekeepers find joy in the mystery of bees. "They treasure the bees for their own sake—like a goldfinch that nests in the yard—and have an evangelical spirit, as if they have stumbled on a great secret. They are disdainful of conventional beekeepers," Knight recounts. Some natural keepers don't sell or even take bee honey. John told Knight, “It’s not my honey to sell." Knight adds, “Another natural beekeeper, who abstains from taking honey altogether, referenced ‘When Harry Met Sally’ to explain his position: ‘There was this line, Sex always gets in the way of friendship. I think honey always gets in the way of us appreciating bees.”

Shared planet nips: Atmospheric CO2 is highest on record; solar farms have bee buddies; foraging for a purpose . . .

The 'flashy' American kestrel
(Photo by Bryan Anselm, The New York Times)

Starting with this, from time to time The Rural Blog will have roundups of environmental news.

American kestrel populations are disappearing, and scientists are struggling to understand why, reports Catrin Einhorn of The New York Times. "Scientists estimate that the continent has lost half its kestrels since 1970. . . . Previous raptor disappearances have been cracked like murder mysteries. . . . While some research indicates that declines may be leveling off, scientists are alarmed. . . . In the Anthropocene, one mystery leads to another."

"Carbon dioxide levels in the air are now the highest they've been in more than 4 million years because of the burning of oil, coal and gas," reports Seth Borenstein of The Associated Press. "The last time the air had similar amounts was during a less hospitable hothouse Earth before human civilization took root, scientists said." Carbon dioxide acts as Earth's blanket by trapping heat that would otherwise be released into space. As our planet's carbon dioxide levels increase, so do the Earth's temperatures.

Western Apache forager Twila Cassadore understands the burdens of addiction and mental illness--she once struggled with both, but through foraging, she found "a way out," reports Samual Gilbert for The Guardian. "It allowed her to reconnect to her 'identity, culture and people,' she said. . . . She spent years learning about traditional foodways, gaining the trust of community elders, listening to their stories, and harvesting the foods of her ancestors. . . . This gave her purpose and 'filled this void I had felt most of my life,' said Cassadore, now more than 20 years sober." Cassadore told him: "Foraging healed me."

Courtesy photo from Center for Pollinators in Energy

Let's hope it's sunny and windy. "The world is set to add a record amount of renewable electricity capacity this year as governments and consumers seek to offset high energy prices and take advantage of a boom in solar power, according to a new report Thursday," reports Frank Jordans of The Associated Press. "The International Energy Agency said high fossil fuel prices — resulting from Russia's attack on Ukraine — and concerns about energy security had boosted the rollout of solar and wind power installations, which are expected to reach 440 gigawatts in 2023."

Speaking of the solar boom, who else needs to get on that bandwagon? Bees. "Solar beekeeping is the practice of placing beehives on or near solar sites. While photovoltaic panels are generating energy from the sun, bees are busy making honey and pollinating the native and non-invasive plant species below the panels," reports the Center for Rural Affairs for AgriSolar Clearinghouse. "Beekeeping at solar sites can enhance the value of the land by keeping it in agricultural production, providing new streams of income for local farmers, and adding such environmental benefits as water filtration, reduced erosion, and enhanced soil health due to the presence of native and non-invasive vegetation."

Flora and fauna: Bear under a deck, ants to smell cancer, a vaccine for bees, a mini-horse for joy, Huron microbes . . .

L: Appearing to sport a headdress, a Polish rooster stands tall for his portrait. R: Show chickens like this Polish hen, are bred for external attributes, such as color patterns and feather shapes. (Photos: Alex Ten Napel for National Geographic)

A "totally unfazed" black bear dozes underneath a
comfy deck. (Photo by Vinny Dashukewich)

Why did the chicken cross the road? To get to the catwalk. Eggsperts agree, chickens have it all; and the photographers say the models are much more agreeable to work with than their fussy human counterparts.

When you find a black bear hibernating under your deck, what do you do? A family in Plainville, Connecticut, decided to let the bear snooze on.

Thundersnow is mysterious and rare. It's also being studied as a reliable indicator that a windfall of snow is coming.

What's better than a horse? A mini horse! This 33-inch mini Appaloosa brings joy to children with life-threatening illnesses from rural York County, Pennsylvania, to "anywhere people need a lift."

Gas exploration, cruise ships, and military operations have all made the ocean a lot louder for dolphins. Researches look at how dolphins attempt "shout" to communicate, but it doesn't always work out.

Researcher Rosa Vásquez Espinoza deep dives into oligotrophic Lake Huron to understand how life on Earth evolved through studying microscopic life. She believes this data "is the missing key to better conservation of Earth."

Sea lion, seals and Washington's endangered salmon: What can be done to help salmon return to its once robust numbers?

One day ants may able to replace expensive testing to sniff out cancer tumors. This new study puts the keen-nosed ant to the test with some surprising results.

American honey bee pollination supports more than $18 billion in U.S. crops each year, but bee hives have been struggling. In a bit of good news, a vaccine aimed at protecting honeybees from American foulbrood is being developed.

Climate change increases challenges for bees and other pollinators important to agriculture and our food system

A ground-nesting bee (Rob Cruickshank/Flickr)

Humans aren't the only animals suffering from extreme weather likely worsened by climate change. Extreme drought in the western U.S. and extreme rain in the Northeast have made it tough on the nation's pollinators, writes Jennie L. Durant for The Conversation, a platform for journalistic writing by academics.

Durant, a researcher at the University of California, Davis, says many beekeepers have kept their colonies alive with increasing supplements of sugar water and pollen, but some say they still lost 50% to 70% of their colonies last winter.

Extreme weather "likely also affected wild and native bees. And unlike managed colonies, these important species did not receive supplements to buffer them through harsh conditions," Durant reports. The Department of Agriculture, the Environmental Protection Agency and pollinator experts meet annually to assess the status "of these important insects, birds, bats and other species," Durant writes. "One clear takeaway from this year’s meeting was that climate change has become a new and formidable stressor for bees, potentially amplifying previously known issues in ways that scientists can’t yet predict but need to prepare for."

Globally, pollinators contribute an estimated $235 billion to $577 billion annually to agriculture.

Bee populations already suffer from "what beekeepers call the 'four Ps': parasites, pathogens, pesticides and poor nutrition, as well as habitat loss for wild and native bees," Durant writes. Climate change could increase the challenges to bees. Some studies have already shown "that climate change is disrupting seasonal connections between bees and flowers." Extreme rain can disrupt bees' foraging patterns and wildfire and floods may destroy their habitat.

Dicamba causing 'civil war' among farmers; Calif. thieves increasingly target pollinator beehives, Reveal reports

The herbicide dicamba is great at killing pigweed, but it's notoriously prone to drifting into nearby fields, injuring vulnerable crops and farm workers. As dicamba misuse complaints continue to increase this year, the debate over whether or not to use the controversial stuff is igniting a "civil war" in some farming communities, Reveal News reports on public radio stations.

The podcast also reveals a surprising new target for thieves: beehives. In California, almond farmers rent bee colonies from all over the country to pollinate their orchards. It's lucrative work for beekeepers, even more so than honey, which has spurred the increasing trend of beehive thefts there.

Listen to the podcast here.

Former coal miners train as beekeepers to earn extra cash

Former miner James Scyphers works with
bees. (Photo by Kevin Johnson

With mining jobs in decline, many coal miners need to find new ways to make a living. One possibility: beekeeping. In West Virginia, the state with the lowest labor-force participation in the country, the Appalachian Beekeeping Collective has been training former miners to build hives and tend bees, Jodi Helmer reports for NPR. The program is open to all the more than 28 percent of West Virginia residents at or below the federal poverty rate.

There's a bit of irony in how the project came about: the nonprofit Appalachian Headwaters, which operates the collective in 17 West Virginia counties, "was formed in 2016 to invest a $7.5 million settlement from a lawsuit against coal mine operator Alpha Natural Resources for violations of the Clean Water Act," Helmer reports. "The money has been used to fund environmental restoration projects and to develop sustainable economic opportunities in the once-thriving coal-mining communities of West Virginia."

The nonprofit has trained 35 beekeepers and has another 50 signed up for classes set to begin soon. Everyone who graduates from the free introductory class gets equipment and bees for free or at a reduced cost and gets access to ongoing training and mentorship, Helmer reports.

Last year was the first season in which beekeepers in the program maintained their own hives, but they'll have to wait until spring to collect the first honey. ABC will collect, bottle, and sell the honey and pay them for their harvest. The delightfully named Cindy Bee, a master beekeeper with Headwaters, says a good hive can produce 60 to 100 pounds of honey per season, selling for an average retail price of $7.32. "With multiple hives, that can add up quickly: Twenty hives could mean nearly $15,000 per season. There are also opportunities to produce candles, lip balm and other wax products with additional training offered through the organization," Young reports.

Beekeeping expertise could also come in handy if any of the new beekeepers are not averse to a road trip and want to tap into demand for bees as pollinators for crops. Renting out bees for pollination services now nets beekeepers more money than raising them for honey.

Scientists say dicamba partly to blame for honeybee die-off

Scientists say a popular weedkiller is a major reason honeybee populations are falling in the U.S. and worldwide.

Dicamba has been used as a herbicide since the 1960s, but in recent years stakeholders have increasingly complained that it tends to drift from where it's sprayed and damage or kill neighboring crops and other plants. That includes the flowering weeds that honeybees love to pollinate, Liza Gross reports for Reveal, a publication of The Center for Investigative Reporting, in conjunction with the Food & Environment Reporting Network.

Several states have banned or restricted use of the herbicide, but the Environmental Protection Agency ruled in October that farmers can use it for the next two years with tighter restrictions. Scientists have warned EPA for years that dicamba would continue to kill bees' food. In 2011, EPA scientists agreed, concluding that increased dicamba use could hurt pollinators. But in 2018 EPA said it expected the decision would not cause any adverse effects for bees or other pollinators.

Dicamba use "appears to be a major factor in large financial losses for beekeepers," Gross reports. "Hive losses don’t affect just the nation’s honey supply: Honeybees pollinate more than $15 billion worth of fruits, nuts and vegetables a year, largely in California. From 2016 to 2017, U.S. honey production dropped 9 percent. Official statistics for 2018 have not been released."

Besides destroying bees' food, dicamba may also be killing them by damaging their gut microbes and hindering their ability to make fat and stay warm during cold weather. Parasites, viruses, climate change and insecticides are other factors that have contributed to colony collapse disorder, which has destroyed between 30 and 90 percent of beekeepers' hives in the past decade, Gross reports.

New app connects beekeepers and farmers

With bee populations declining and some farmers pursuing more intensive methods of farming, there aren't enough naturally occurring bees to pollinate many farmers' crops. A new smartphone app connects beekeepers with farmers who need their crops pollinated.

Pollination Network allows farmers to post public listings searching for bees; beekeepers can filter those listings based on location, price rate and quality of bees needed. Beekeepers now make more money by renting colonies for pollination than through honey sales.

Bee careful: Your honey might be partly corn syrup

When you think of counterfeit items, you might think of Rolexes or money. But these days you might just find something fake in your grocery cart: imported honey is increasingly likely to be diluted with cheap fillers.

Part of the problem is that Americans' appetite for honey has almost doubled since the 1990s, with prices following, but American bees produce 35 percent less honey now than 20 years ago. "This has given honey-sellers an incentive to dilute it with cheaper things like corn, rice and beet syrup," The Economist reports. "According to US Pharmacopeia’s Food Fraud Database, honey is now the third-favorite food target for adulteration, behind milk and olive oil."

Because domestic production can't keep up with demand, Americans import a lot of honey. And though there are tests to make sure honey hasn't been tampered with, the most common one is more than 25 years old and most honey counterfeiters know how to get around it, The Economist says.

Another problem: Food and Drug Administration guidelines require honey sellers to list additional ingredients, but those rules aren't legally enforceable. And the FDA's legal definition of honey may be so loose as to allow additives such as corn syrup.

Domestic production is unlikely to increase as long as beekeepers make more money renting out their bees to pollinate crops than they do from producing honey. Crop pollination "involves up to 90 percent of the commercial bee population in America, leaving few bees to pollinate everything else that requires their attention," The Economist reports. Such pollination services have been made more necessary because of dense planting, especially of almond trees, that make it less likely that natural pollination would occur. And bees are having a harder time surviving in nature because of climate change, diseases, and possibly the use of neonicotinoid pesticides.

Almond joy: Apiarists make more on pollination than honey

Mostly due to rising demand for almonds, the average beekeeper now makes more money by renting colonies for pollination than through honey sales, Peyton Ferrier reports for Amber Waves, a publication of the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

For more than 100 years, apiarists have rented bee colonies to farmers to increase yields of melons, orchard fruits and other crops. Pollination service fees for almonds doubled around 2004, when growers began planting more trees, and more densely, to meet increased demand.

In 2016, almond growers accounted for 82 percent of all U.S. expenditures on pollination. Most almond orchards are in California's Central Valley region. "As the crop’s demand for pollination services has outstripped local supply, farmers have paid high fees to bring in colonies from cross-country distances for the February bloom," Ferrier reports. "At 5 percent, the pollination-services share of all farm costs is far higher for almonds than for most other crops (about 1 percent)."

Southwestern Pennsylvania coal miners reject retraining, wait for Trump's coal comeback

 Appalachia has lost more than 33,000 mining jobs since 2011, prompting the creation of numerous Obama-era job retraining classes for coal miners. Such programs are doing well in states like West Virginia and Kentucky where locals widely acknowledge that there's little hope for a comeback. But in southern Pennsylvania, more ample coal reserves and a marginally better mining job market have led miners to largely reject retraining efforts.

"What many experts call false hopes for a coal resurgence have mired economic development efforts here in a catch-22: Coal miners are resisting retraining without ready jobs from new industries, but new companies are unlikely to move here without a trained workforce," Valerie Volcovici reports for Reuters. "The stalled diversification push leaves some of the nation’s poorest areas with no clear path to prosperity."

The brief upsurge in mining jobs in Pennsylvania is mainly related to a rise in foreign demand for metallurgical coal, which is used to produce steel. "Some market analysts describe the foreign demand as a temporary blip driven by production problems in the coal hub of Australia," Volcovici reports. Most U.S. coal is mined to burn for electricity, and that is the sector of the industry that Trump has taken actions to help.

Some displaced miners are turning to a surprising new enterprise: beekeeping. West Virginia resident Mark Lilly will begin training former coal miners to keep bees starting in January throught the Appalachian Beekeeping Collective, funded by a grant from the Appalachian Regional Commission. "Lilly sees beekeeping as a way for longtime Appalachians to preserve their connection to the land and to earn extra money during lean times. Some might even be able to support themselves and their families on income from bees," Marlene Cimons reports for EcoWatch. "The Appalachian Beekeeping Collective plans to process, market and distribute honey. The ultimate goal is to bring millions of dollars into the region and provide income for hundreds of Appalachians. The new beekeepers will receive hives either for free or at a reduced price, depending on their income."

Study argues that human behavior is overarching reason for decline in bee populations

Bee Informed graphic

Humans are the biggest reason for the decline in honeybee populations, says Robert Owen, author of The Australian Beekeeping Manual, in a study published in the Journal of Economic Entomology. Other studies have blamed neonicotinoid-based pesticides, varroa mites, disease and poor nutrition for declining honeybee populations.

Owen writes, "Although the environmental and economic implications of honeybee decline may be mitigated by changes in human behavior and governments in some instances share the responsibility for implementing these changes, I would argue that most change should occur in the behavior of individual keepers."

Owen partly blames the decline of bees on overuse of pesticides and antibiotics. He also argues that "the global trade in honeybees and honeybee products has spread pathogens that might otherwise have remained localized" and "migratory beekeeping has spread pathogens within countries." Also, the lack of skill or dedication among hobbyist beekeepers lead them to inadequately inspect and manage colonies for disease.

As an example, he said that of the 2.66 million managed honeybee colonies in the U.S., "1.8 million were transported to the Central Valley of California in February 2016 to pollinate the almond crop." He writes, "It is likely that these colonies spread mites, beetles, viruses and other pathogens between colonies involved in almond pollination."

Over 300 native North American bee species at increasing risk of extinction, says study

Hundreds of bee species in North America are declining says a study by the Center for Biological Diversity. The study, which said sufficient data exists for 1,437 native bee species—out of more than 4,000—in North America, found that 749 are declining. Researchers also found that 347 native bee species are "imperiled and at increasing risk of extinction." Study author Kelsey Kopec said "declines are caused primarily by habitat loss, heavy pesticide use, climate change and urbanization." (Center for Biological Diversity graphic)

"Experts from the center reviewed the status of 316 bee species and then conducted reviews of all available information to determine the status of a further 1,121 species," Gina Cherelus reports for Reuters. "The center said the species which lacked sufficient data were also presumed to be at risk of extinction Gina Cherelus reports for Reuters. Among the native species that are severely threatened are the Gulf Coast solitary bee, the macropis cuckoo bee and the sunflower leafcutting bee, which is now rarely seen."

Bees are responsible for more than $15 billion in increased U.S. crop value each year. Honeybees lost 28 percent of colonies during the 2015-16 winter, up from 22 percent the year before.

Maryland lawmakers push bill to make it self-defense to kill bears threatening bee colonies

Maryland lawmakers are pushing a bill that would allow bears to be killed if they threaten bee populations, Michael Dresser reports for The Baltimore Sun. They want to extend the same level of protection to bees that the state "now gives calves, goats, chickens and other animals. A person defending himself, other people or livestock is exempt from a state law that makes shooting a black bear without a permit punishable by a $1,500 fine and six months in jail for a first offense."

Black bears are mostly located in Western Maryland

Black bears are largely found in the state's four westernmost counties—Garrett, Allegany, Washington and Frederick, Dresser writes. The Maryland Department of Natural Resources says bears are responsible for about six attacks per year on bee colonies. Some lawmakers say that's too many. Beekeepers say once a bear finds a source of honey they will attack until it is depleted. Lawmakers say the "legislation would not lead to unsustainable losses in a state bear population estimated at 2,000 adults."

Federal judge: Seed coatings with chemicals harmful to bees exempt from federal regulation

A federal district judge in Northern California ruled Monday that "seeds coated with neonicotinoid insecticides will continue to be exempt from regulation under the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act (FIRFA)," Stephen Davies reports for Agri-Pulse.

In response to a lawsuit by beekeepers and environmental groups, Judge William Alsup said he was sympathetic "to the plight of our bee population and beekeeper," but said that the Environmental Protection Agency should have done more to protect bees and it was the agency's responsibility to make policy decisions on regulations, not his.

Alsup, a Bill Clinton appointee, said "that pesticide-treated seeds cannot be regulated as pesticides under FIFRA as long as the seed coatings themselves are registered, and 'the pesticidal protection imparted to the treated seed does not extend beyond the seed itself to offer pesticidal benefits or value attributable to the treated seed'," Davies writes.

The pesticide industry cheered the decision, saying it will prevent more regulation, Davies writes. Plaintiffs said they "were disappointed, but also noted that Alsup 'dismissed the case on an administrative procedure basis, not on the fundamental question of whether the exempted seeds are harming honey bees'.”

Bayer paying Mass. $75,000 fine for deceptions about pesticides' risk to bees and environment

Bee Informed graphic

Bayer CropScience will pay the state of Massachusetts a $75,000 fine for failing to properly advertise the hazards of pesticides to bees and the environment, under an agreement between the company and the state, Gabriel Dunsmith reports for Greenwire. State Attorney General Maura Healey said it is the first time a major chemical manufacturer "has submitted to a court order regarding false advertising related to bees and other pollinators." Bayer will be forced to change its advertising in Massachusetts.

Healey, said Bayer "misled and deceived consumers" with "numerous misleading claims ... about the safety of its pesticide products, including falsely advertising that they were similar to giving 'a daily vitamin' to plants, when in fact, they are highly toxic to honeybees and other pollinators in the environment."

Neonicotinoid-based pesticides have been partly blamed on declining bee populations, along with varroa mites, disease and poor nutrition and food supply. Bees are responsible for more than $15 billion in increased U.S. crop value each year. Honeybees lost 28 percent of colonies last winter, up from 22 percent the year before.

Bayer spokesman Jeff Donald said the company denies any wrongdoing and agreed to the settlement "to avoid the time and cost associated with litigation," Martha Kessler reports for Bloomberg News. He said "The firm’s crop science division believes the advertising related to the products involving neonicotinoid chemistry was 'at all times accurate and transparent'."

Minnesota governor issues executive order limiting pesticides harmful to pollinators

Bee Informed graphic

Minnesota Democratic Gov. Mark Dayton on Friday issued an executive order limiting the use of neonicotinoid-based pesticides that have been partly blamed on declining bee populations, Dan Gunderson and Elizabeth Dunbar report for Minnesota Public Radio. Honeybees lost 28 percent of colonies last winter, up from 22 percent the year before. Deaths are blamed on varroa mites, pesticides, disease and poor nutrition and food supply. Bees are responsible for more than $15 billion in increased U.S. crop value each year.

A University of Minnesota study released Friday found that neonicotinoids make queen bees less active, making them lay fewer eggs.

Dayton's decision was based on recommendations from a two-year study by the Minnesota Department of Agriculture, Gunderson and Dunbar write. The executive order calls for: "Demonstrated need for pest control before neonicotinoid insecticides can be applied. That means a there must be a level of pest infestation high enough to cause economic damage to the crops" and "Increased inspection and enforcement to make sure users follow label restrictions designed to protect bees."

The Minnesota Corn Growers Association said in a statement that "pollinators play a crucial role in the health of our agricultural economy ... restrictions on the use of neonicotinoids that adversely affect farmers ability to make a living should be evaluated and implemented carefully," Gunderson and Dunbar write. Bayer Crop Science, which makes two of the most common neonicotinoids said in a statement that it supports efforts to protect pollinators, but "taking tools from farmers without an open and transparent public discussion rooted in sound science does a disservice to everyone."

Backyard beekeepers putting their colonies, and nearby ones, at risk by not controlling mites

Novice beekeepers may be inadvertently putting their hives, and those located nearby, "in danger because they aren't keeping the bee mite population in check," Dan Gunderson reports for Minnesota Public Radio News. "Many hobbyists avoid mite treatments, preferring a natural approach, but that's often a deadly decision for the bees, said University of Minnesota bee expert Marla Spivak." (MPR News photo by Judy Griesedieck: A varroa mite, seen here infesting the pupae of a developing bee."

Spivak said surveys have shown that backyard beekeepers are taking the greatest losses nationwide, with most of the losses the result of varroa mite, Gunderson writes. Spivak said "untreated hives can spread mites and viruses to other hives within several miles. Healthy bees will invade a dying hive to steal the honey. When they do, they also carry mites with them back to their hives." Spivak told Gunderson, "The combination of the mite and the viruses is deadly."

Honeybees lost 28% of population over winter; more beekeepers need to treat for mites

Honeybees took a big hit this winter, losing 28 percent of colonies, up from 22 percent the year before, Seth Borenstein reports for The Associated Press. The losses are about average over the past decade, but are higher than the 17 percent beekeepers consider acceptable. It's still down from a peak of 36 percent nine years ago. University of Montana bee scientist Jerry Bromenshenk said he believes last year's losses are greater than reported, because the statistics come from a survey by the U.S. Department of Agriculture that relies on self-reporting. Deaths are blamed on varroa mites, pesticides, disease and poor nutrition and food supply. Bees are responsible for more than $15 billion in increased U.S. crop value each year. (Bee Informed graphic) 

"For 2015-2016, the overall colony loss rate was 44 percent, which is also up from the previous two years, but scientists only started surveying summer deaths in 2010," Borenstein writes. Dennis vanEngelsdorp, an assistant professor of entomology at the University of Maryland, said "one problem is backyard beekeeper hobbyists who don't treat their bees for mites with pesticides, even organic ones. Their hives die and survivors full of mites head to new hives, spreading the problem." (Read more)

Scotts subsidiary Ortho announces it will phase out type of pesticide harmful to bees, other pollinators

Insect control product maker Ortho announced on Tuesday "it would begin 'to transition away' from using chemicals that are harmful to honeybees and other pollinators, responding to growing pressure from environmental advocates," Roger Yu reports for USA Today. "The Marysville, Ohio-based company, which is a subsidiary of ScottsMiracle-Gro, will discontinue neonicotinoid-based pesticides for outdoor use. The move follows Lowe's and Home Depot's announcements last year that they will stop selling neonicotinoid-based products in their garden care sections." (Bee Informed graphic)

"Ortho also plans to work with the Pollinator Stewardship Council, an advocacy group that supports beekeepers, to start a customer education program and lobby for the use of label language that clarifies the purchase of non-neonic pesticides," Yu writes. Last year, honey production fell 12 percent among producers with five or more colonies, according to a U.S. Department of Agriculture survey. Declining bee populations have been partially blamed on pesticides. Bees are responsible for more than $15 billion in increased U.S. crop value each year. (Read more)