Report: 2025 Going To Be Tough on Honey Bees

Researchers at Washington State University (WSU) are buzzing the alarm on behalf of honey bees . They believe bees could face a 70% drop in population in 2025. 

Each year, honey bees lose roughly 40% to 50% of their colony, on average. As queen bees lay more eggs, the numbers bounce back. But a number of problems are likely to hit bee populations in the coming months. The losses could push into a range not seen in 17 years. That would leave beekeepers and farmers to wonder whether the bees can recover.   

“I’ve heard since last August that this was going to be a terrible year,” Brandon Hopkins said in a statement. He's a professor of ecology at WSU. “Growers are desperate. Anything with live bees in a box is in demand because the industry is short on supply. I haven’t heard of that since the early days of colony collapse around 2008.”  

The problems bees face this year include mite infestations, fast spreading viruses, and pesticides. If beekeepers can’t find a way to help hives, the impact could be huge.   

“We could see a drop-off in honey production,” WSU professor Priya Basu said. She noted that it could become too costly for beekeepers to continue.   

Bees and other pollinators are responsible for helping the growth of 35% of the world’s food supply. That's from the US Department of Agriculture. Many crops rely on honey bees for pollination. Some of the favorites in the US are apples, almonds, broccoli, carrots, grapes, green beans, and strawberries.    

Reflect: What are some small or unnoticed parts of nature that you are thankful for, and why?