US Department of Agriculture calls in university to help study decline as Trump administration staff cuts sting

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.

    • kerrigan778@lemmy.worldEnglish
      2·
      3 days ago

      I just want to point out that you just said everywhere but and then listed around 60% of the total world land area.

      • woelkchen@lemmy.worldEnglish
        1·
        3 days ago

        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.

        • kerrigan778@lemmy.worldEnglish
          2·
          3 days ago

          I mean, it would still be pretty bad news as most of them are domesticated farm animals that are vital to our agriculture.

    • Drusas@fedia.io
      32·
      3 days ago

      “Invasive” and “not native” are not interchangeable. Honeybees are not native to North America, but they are not an invasive species.

      • Duamerthrax@lemmy.worldEnglish
        3·
        3 days ago

        Also, most of our staple crops aren’t native and we need the bees to pollinate most of them.

        You don’t need bees for wheat, corn, rice or potatoes, but just about any fruit require them.

      • mtmtchy@lemm.eeEnglish
        2·
        3 days ago

        Tell that to all of our native bee species that have lost habitat and resources to the highly aggressive Africanized honeybees taking over our ecosystem. They are, in fact, invasive.

        But I also believe that pesticides are not the answer. There are ways of managing bee activity and the company I work for is actively engaged in developing new, pesticide-free bee and wasp control systems. I hope they will be used much more than pesticides in the future.

        • Drusas@fedia.io
          2·
          2 days ago

          Well if you change the topic to Africanized honey bees, yeah. They are invasive. The bees that people keep are not.