Bee deaths across the region appear to have coincided with the start of corn-planting in the past week or so and many are trying to find out why. That includes Alfred Dick who moved to the country to enjoy semi-retirement but he soon found a love for beekeeping. Now, this sweet pastime is leaving a bitter taste in his mouth. "I was hoping this was going to be one of my fun things to do out in the country, but last year it became a catastrophe in the spring when they all started to die. And here it is a year later and the same thing is happening again," says Dick.

Beekeepers in the main producing area in the community have confirmed that chemical treatments to combat the varroa mite, a major cause of mortality of bees, they have to be changed every three or four years because the parasite is immunized.

Alan Dixon of Hannibal lost  75 percent of his 150 or so hives over the winter.  That's what it's been like lately," said Dixon, who isn't sure whether the problem is new pests or pesticides or other factors in what is being called "colony collapse disorder." Such losses are high, but this was a bad winter season for bees and beekeepers in many parts of the state, said Aaron Morris, president of the Empire State Honey Producers Association. It wasn't the winter weather, he said. It was mostly brought on by dry conditions in 2012 that weakened the hives heading into winter.

Ben Volk has been beekeeping for more than seven years; he is now president of the Knox County Beekeepers Association. Volk has 15 hives on a farm outside of Luttrell. He spent an afternoon in April trying to rid his colonies of the small hive beetle, one of many pests that can destroy a hive. "It's impossible to just point at one thing and say, 'This is what's wiping out the bees.' And it would be a lot easier if we could," Volk said.

Kentucky state apiarist Sean Burgess said the state suffered high winter losses this year, something beekeepers did not need. “A lot of beekeepers have lost up to 50 percent of their colonies, with an average of 35 to 40 percent losses this year,” he said. While some winter losses are expected, those experienced this year were likely the result of early spring temperature swings from warm back to cold.

The Director. Animal Irnport/Expon Division Dr. Francine Lord  sent a letter informing the risk evaluation to import bees from the USA. Please download attached document

Article written by Daniel Lee Kleinman and Sainath Suryanarayanan

Close to 60 percent of the managed hives died last fall and over the winter — about twice the national average, according to the state bee inspector and local keepers. "I had a healthy hive that produced 50 pounds of honey last year, and we were anticipating another great year," said Stephen Christianson, a Mount Washington beekeeper of three years. "Then, they were just gone. It took my breath away."

Geoff Wilson, provincial specialist in apiculture -- or beekeeping -- said that an average of 23 percent mortality has plagued many beekeepers in the province over the term of five years. This year, anywhere from five to 90 percent of honey bee populations have faced mortality from reports coming into Wilson. The extended winter weather has not helped either, according to Wilson.

In the last year, over half of the members of the Treasure Valley beekeeper's club lost their hives, including president Chad Dickinson. "It was a very bad situation to where you basically end up having to go get swarms and having to start all over," says Dickinson. The harsh winter played a role, but colony collapse disorder is also hitting Idaho's bee population hard this year. Pesticides and insecticides could be a playing a role behind this growing pandemic.