More Work Needed to Help Bees in Pennsylvania, Experts Say
The future of bees is looking brighter, yet the path to maintaining healthy and productive hives is more demanding than ever. Drew Johnson, a regional manager for Best Bees, exemplifies the diligent efforts required in today's beekeeping landscape.
Environmental challenges, including climate change, reduced native plants, and diminishing foraging and shelter areas, continue to make the world less hospitable for bees. Despite these hurdles, public awareness and initiatives to "save the bees" have increased in recent years.
According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, the number of bee colonies in the United States grew significantly from 2017 to 2022, with nearly a million additional colonies and a substantial increase in honey production. However, local beekeepers emphasize that much more needs to be done.
At hives managed by Johnson, maintaining bee health is increasingly complex. “Beekeeping has never been harder,” Johnson said. He noted that practices from twenty years ago are insufficient today. Joe Zgurzynski, from Country Barn Farm in O’Hara, has been in the business for 50 years and highlights the ongoing need for awareness and action to protect bees.
The USDA's annual honeybee colony survey revealed that operations with five or more colonies lost 14% of their colonies between January and March of last year, with Pennsylvania experiencing slightly higher losses at 17%. Although these numbers are better than the 31% loss in early 2015, challenges remain. Zgurzynski’s bees fared better than average, with a loss rate of just 4% for the winter of 2022-23.
Colony collapse disorder (CCD), once a significant threat, has decreased over the past five years, yet other challenges persist. Pesticides, climate change, and parasites like the Varroa mite continue to jeopardize bee health. Beekeepers like Zgurzynski have adapted by intensifying their hive management and monitoring practices.
“Before, someone might never open their bee box more than a few times a year. These days, it’s every two weeks,” Johnson said. Beekeepers now spend considerable time feeding bees a sugar-water solution due to the limited nectar season.
Educational programs and resources are crucial for supporting beekeepers. Penn State Extension’s apiculture educator, Robyn Underwood, noted improvements in keeping bees alive through winter and emphasized the importance of ongoing education about organic beekeeping and parasite management.
Conservation tactics that benefit honeybees and native bees include avoiding pesticides and leaving plant stems and leaves over winter to provide nesting habitats. “It’s better for the bees,” Underwood said.
As the efforts to protect and sustain bee populations continue, the collective action of beekeepers, conservationists, and the public remains vital.
FAQs
What environmental challenges do bees face?
- Bees face climate change, lack of native plants, limited foraging and shelter, and pesticide use.
Why is beekeeping more labor-intensive now?
- Beekeepers must check hives more frequently and provide supplementary feeding due to shorter blooming seasons.
What are some recent statistics on bee colonies in the U.S.?
- The USDA reported nearly a million new bee colonies added between 2017 and 2022, with increased honey production.
What threats do mites pose to bees?
- Varroa mites weaken bees and spread diseases, requiring regular hive checks and management by beekeepers.
How can conservation tactics benefit bees?
- Avoiding pesticides, leaving stems and leaves over winter, and providing open dirt patches can help both honeybees and native bees.
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