Honeybee Deaths Reach Record Levels in the U.S.
The beekeeping industry is facing a crisis due to honeybee deaths reaching record levels in the U.S. Over the past decade, honeybee colonies have been declining at a noticeable frequency.
According to recent data, 62 percent of commercial honeybee colonies collapsed between June 2024 and January 2025, which may be
"the biggest loss of honeybee colonies in U.S. history,"as stated by Scott McArt, a Cornell University associate professor of entomology.
Importance of Honeybees in the Ecosystem
Honeybees play a crucial role in the ecosystem and food production, pollinating around 75 percent of the plants grown in the U.S. and contributing to approximately $18 billion worth of crops.
We cannot pollinate at the scale that we need to produce food in the United States.said Blake Shook, a Texas beekeeper and founder of The Bee Supply, highlighting the potential consequences of the declining honeybee population on the food industry.
Author's summary: Honeybee deaths reach record levels in the U.S.