A third of all honey bee colonies were lost over the winter of 2012/2013 – more than double the losses of the previous year – with increased losses recorded in all regions of England.
The British Beekeepers Association (BBKA) today announced the results of its latest annual winter survival survey which show that the number of honey bee colonies lost over the winter was more than double that of the previous year, with all regions in England showing increased losses.
On average 33.8 colonies in every 100 were lost compared with 16.2 in the winter of 2011/2012. The losses principally reflect the impact of the continual poor and changeable weather during 2012 continuing into 2013 and exacerbated by the late arrival of spring.
It is feared that the situation may have worsened since the survey closed at the end of March given the ongoing poor weather and the late arrival of spring.
The poor summer of 2012 meant that honey bees were regularly prevented from gathering pollen and foraging and when they could go out there was a general scarcity of pollen and nectar throughout the season.
Virgin queens were unable to mate properly leading them to become drone laying queens; causing those colonies affected to die-out.
Winter losses of honey bee colonies in England over last six years
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