The data coming from across the Atlantic are cause for concern. Between April 2015 and the same month in 2016, American beekeepers lost 44 per cent of their honey bee colonies. The figure is calculated by combining winter and summer mortality numbers collected across the entire federal territory. And for the second year running, they are extremely high.

A survey on bees that has been running for 10 years

The survey, conducted every year by the Bee Informed Partnership, in collaboration with the Apiary Inspectors of America and with funding from the US government, collects data from the largest possible number of apiaries, both commercial and small-scale. "This is the second year we have seen high summer loss rates, which is cause for serious concern," said Dennis van Engelsdorp, an assistant professor of entomology at the University of Maryland and project director of the Bee Informed Partnership. "Some winter losses are normal and expected. But the fact that beekeepers are losing bees in summer, when they should be at their healthiest, is quite alarming."

Bees are victims of the Varroa destructor mite. Photo via Flickr/Creative Commons.

Almost half of the bees in the USA have disappeared. Photo via Flickr/Creative Commons.

A close encounter with a bee. Photo via Flickr/Creative Commons.

Bees photographed outside their cells. Photo via Flickr/Creative Commons.

A bee loaded with pollen. Photo via Flickr/Creative Commons.

Bees inside a hive. Photo via Flickr/Creative Commons.

A beekeeper inspecting hives. Photo via Flickr/Creative Commons.

The bee is the most important insect for pollination, a process that is fundamental to plant reproduction and consequently to all living beings.

Bees are essential for pollination. Photo via Flickr/Creative Commons.

Indeed, losing almost half of all colonies is not something that happens every year. According to data provided by the association, 2013 was the worst year, exceeding 45 per cent. The blame, as stated in the report, lies primarily with the increase of Varroa destructor, a lethal mite that kills insect larvae and pupae before they reach full maturity. But pesticides and improper land use are also at fault, as they deprive the insects of food sources.

Pollination at risk

The survey, which began 10 years ago, has made it possible to collect data from more than 5,700 beekeepers across 48 states, accounting for 15 per cent of the approximately 2.6 million American colonies. It is a research effort undertaken to understand why honey bee colonies are experiencing health problems and how to address them: pollination is worth 10 to 15 billion dollars every year. "The high loss rates of recent years mean that beekeepers find themselves having to work much harder to constantly replenish colonies," explained Jeffey Pettis, an entomologist at the USDA and research coordinator. "This costs them time and money. We urgently need to find solutions to reduce losses both in winter and in summer."