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.
There’s also a big difference between the type of bees (honeybees) that keepers care for, and the “other” kinds (carpenter, yellow jacket…etc).
If they’re ALL missing from your area, that’s detrimental to plants being able to live.
I usually have to make carpenter bee traps/lures so they leave the exposed wood around my property alone. They’re going to collapse the porch at this rate.
The traps are basically just sections of 2x4 with little starter holes drilled here and there. Idk why but the chonkers seem to like those more.
So far, no traps this year.
I haven’t even seen any hornets or daubers
Honestly, at this point we may need to just stop trapping and killing any of the pest pollinators. The hormone traps they sell everywhere now have got to be a huge problem.
I say “trap” but I don’t kill anything, and they don’t die.
It’s just a sacrificial post I keep near the wood I want them to leave alone.
They’re alive and well in their 2x4s