Summary
US honeybee deaths hit a record high, with beekeepers losing over 60% of colonies this winter.
The crisis threatens pollination of key crops and has led to financial ruin for many beekeepers. Scientists cite climate change, habitat loss, pesticide use, varroa mites, and poor handling as potential causes.
The USDA is investigating the latest losses, but Trump-era staff cuts have slowed research, prompting Cornell University to assist.
Despite increased colony numbers from rising beekeeper interest, loss rates continue to surge, endangering agriculture and ecosystems.
The bees were just lazy and couldn’t pull themselves up by their bootstraps. The survivors will surely be stronger.
Was personally just looking around and thinking “Where the fuck are all the bees?”. They’re normally extremely active in my area this time of year, and am devastated to hear this.
It’s burnout. They see the headlines everyday, and the flowers just don’t seem as bright as they used to.
that is fine, Trump orders retracting word pesticides from every article, done.
Pesticides and climate destruction?
Waiting for the next headline to have “Experts suggest” this.
While half of america is like “saving bees is tax dollar fraud. Kill the bees!”
FYI: Honey bees are an invasive species everywhere but Eurasia and Africa
I just want to point out that you just said everywhere but and then listed around 60% of the total world land area.
Thanks for the clarification. Let me also clarify that the USA are within that 40% where honey bees are not native to and brought there by Europeans.
Were the cause not pesticides that kill all insects including native species, a decline of that invasive one would have been good news.
I mean, it would still be pretty bad news as most of them are domesticated farm animals that are vital to our agriculture.
