2-7-2025\u00a0\u00a0 10pm<\/p>\n
If you have not heard – over the last month – as many beekeepers prepare to send bees to California for Almond pollination – it’s being found that the normal approximate annual attrition rate of honeybee colonies of 40% – is this year – being seen in the range of 50%-80% and in some cases – 100% losses.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Currently, the cause is unknown – as to whether it is a new pathogen, or maybe stresses that have pushed bees beyond their healthy breaking point…\u00a0\u00a0 At a glance – this looks as (or more) devastating as the Colony Collapse Disorder phenomenon that was seen in the early 2000-2007 time-frame.<\/p>\n
It’s also not seeming to be confined to any particular line of bees (i.e. Italian, Carniolan, etc), and continued testing will be done as the folks are able to do so from the top down in our industry to see what the vector is for these losses.<\/p>\n
What does that mean for Harmony Hollow Apiaries<\/strong> and Birds and the Bees Apiary<\/strong> – and managing of bees on your land?<\/p>\n All the hives we manage will be closely monitored this next 2 month period to watch for additional losses and will be documenting our management of hives on your land – with the nutrition fed to them, mite treatments, and any hive manipulations made. \u00a0\u00a0 Some losses of weaker (smaller) hives are expected every year – and are typically easily made-up with strong colonies in the spring when conditions are right for queens to be made and to make effective mating flights with mature drones.<\/p>\n Availability of commercially made queens will be affected by the southern snow storm that happened just a few weeks ago.\u00a0\u00a0 Areas on the southern coast were hit with freezes and up to 8″-12″ of snow – at a time when they would normally be making splits and raising queens to provide to the rest of the nation.<\/p>\n When timing and environmental factors are right – Rex and Laura are rearing our own queens this year – first to fulfill our client’s needs and making splits to replace hives that perished over the winter, and secondarily – to provide queens to local beekeepers.<\/p>\n Below are the communications sent from TAIS, Project Apis M., and the webinar from The Bee Supply.<\/p>\n ——<\/p>\n The Texas Apiary Inspection Service<\/strong> ( TAIS<\/strong> ) sent the following email earlier today:<\/p>\n ——<\/p>\n Here’s a video from Blake Shook of The Bee Supply<\/strong> (start the video at 11:45 for the current state of things in the commercial side of beekeeping – especially as related to the losses and this year’s almond pollination.\u00a0\u00a0 Watch the whole video for good “this time of year in teh hive” info as well.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n\n
I am forwarding this information on behalf of Project Apis m.:\r\n\r\nUrgent: Widespread Colony Losses Reported<\/strong> \r\n \r\nDear Beekeeping Community, \r\n\r\nSevere and sudden honey bee colony losses are being reported across the U.S. as beekeepers prepare for almond \r\npollination. Surveys indicate losses exceeding 50% on average, with some operations experiencing up \r\nto 100% losses in the past year. These alarming trends resemble past Colony Collapse Disorder (CCD) \r\nevents and may impact pollination services and food security. \r\n\r\nProject Apis m., alongside our partners and leading researchers, are working to understand the scope and \r\ncauses of these losses. We are gathering data, analyzing samples, and mobilizing resources to support the \r\nbeekeeping industry. \r\n\r\n📥 Download the PDF for more details on what is being done, what we know so far, and next steps for beekeepers. \r\nhttps:\/\/static1.squarespace.