West Virginia honeybee colonies in 2024 compared to 2023

According to the USDA, in West Virginia as of January 1, 2024, the number of operating colonies was up by 20 percent compared to 2023.

From January to June of 2024, the number of colonies lost totaled in 15 percent.

During the quarter of April to June of 2024, 1,100 colonies were added.

Renovated colonies are colonies that were requeened or received were honeybees through nuc or package. The number of colonies renovated during the quarter of April to June of 2024, was eight percent.

The number one stressor for honeybee colonies is varroa mites at 29 percent from January to June of 2024.

In the United States, comparing January 1, 2024, to January 1, 2023, the number of colonies decreased by 1 percent.

The number of lost colonies from January to June of 2024, was 16 percent.

Renovated colonies for January to June of 2024, totaled to 27 percent, compared to the quarter from April to June of 2023 at 18 percent.

During all quarters in 2023, the highest stressor for colonies reported was varroa mites.

The colonies lost due to Colony Collapse Disorder symptoms was 70,650 from January to March in 2024, decreasing by 34 percent from the same quarter in 2023.