Declines of Managed Honey Bees and Beekeepers in Europe

A new study published by the Journal of Apicultural Research provides an overview of the population trends for honey bee colonies and beekeepers in Europe. The paper found consistent declines in colony numbers in central European countries and some increases in Mediterranean countries. The report linked the decline to the decreasing number of beekeepers. As other pollinators such as wild bees and hoverflies are also in decline, this could be a potential danger for pollinator services, on which many arable crops depend, according to the authors of the paper.

The number of bee colonies in Central Europe has decreased over recent decades. In 2007, a kind of bee colony die-off was reported in the United States. The phenomenon, termed "colony collapse disorder" (CCD), could result in loses of up to 90 percent in some bee hives. Similar observations were made in some European countries, particularly in Switzerland and Germany. The cause of CCD is not known, although various factors are thought to be responsible including diseases, pesticide exposure and climate change. The scientists emphasized that through the investigation, the mystery of bee losses has by no means been solved.

Read the paper published by the Journal of Apicultural Research at http://www.ibra.org.uk/articles/20091221_30