Bee Death Increase Seen in U.S. Survey Citing Mites, Viruses
Ken Simpelaar’s apple orchards in upstate New York. Simpelaar is one of hundreds of farmers turning to wild bees to pollinate their crops.
Photographer: Shane Lavalette for Bloomberg BusinessweekThis article is for subscribers only.
Beekeepers in the U.S. reported that 42 percent of the honeybees they managed last year died, the second-highest percentage since the survey began in 2010, as mites, viruses, and other maladies caused losses to spike.
Pesticide exposure also may play a role in weakening bee population, said Dennis vanEngelsdorp, a University of Maryland researcher who directed the annual study released Wednesday.