U.S. Beekeepers Lose 55.6% Of Managed Hives — Varroa Mite Fuels Worst Die-Off On Record

Managed honey bee colonies across the United States suffered an unprecedented collapse between April 2024 and April 2025, with beekeepers reporting a 55.6% loss of managed hives — the largest annual decline since national tracking began in 2010.

Survey Findings

The findings come from Auburn University’s summary of the 2024–2025 U.S. Beekeeping Survey, conducted with the Apiary Inspectors of America, Oregon State University and other partners. The survey collected responses from 2,453 beekeepers representing 219,097 colonies — about 8.4% of the nation's honey-producing hives. State-level annual losses ranged widely from 34.3% to 90.5%.

Winter losses were especially severe: winter mortality averaged 40.2%, the highest winter decline recorded by the survey.

Likely Causes

The U.S. Department of Agriculture and researchers point to the parasitic mite Varroa destructor and related viruses as the primary drivers of the recent die-offs. Resistant mites and disease pressure can quickly overwhelm colonies, particularly during the winter months when hives are more vulnerable.

Economic And Ecological Impact

Honey bees play a central role in U.S. agriculture: pollinators contribute to roughly 75% of crop production. Large-scale hive losses can raise pollination costs, increase pressure on growers, and imperil farms and local economies that depend on reliable pollination services.

Responses, Recovery, And Recommendations

Rebuilding lost colonies is possible but requires substantial money, labor and time. Beekeepers — especially commercial operators — have reported steep costs to replace hives and maintain pollination contracts.

Geoff Williams, director of the Auburn University Bee Center, noted: "These high losses were unfortunately anticipated given reports that came from commercial beekeepers earlier this year."

Danielle Downey, Executive Director of Project Apis m., added: "Remarkably, many beekeepers have shown exceptional resilience by working to rebuild their colonies and sustain pollination services; efforts that come at significant cost in time, labor, and resources. Consecutive annual losses at these levels jeopardize beekeeping businesses."

Experts recommend rigorous Varroa monitoring and integrated pest management (IPM) approaches, timely treatments where effective, genetic and management strategies to build mite-resistant stock, and continued investment in research and beekeeper support programs.

What This Means For Communities: Unless control measures, funding and industry support are strengthened, repeated high losses could destabilize pollination services and the agricultural supply chains that depend on them.

Source: Auburn University summary of the 2024–2025 U.S. Beekeeping Survey; partners included the Apiary Inspectors of America and Oregon State University. USDA statements and expert comments cited in survey summary.