The recent die-off of honey bee groups has alarmed growers, researchers, and the public. From summer 2024 to spring 2025 roughly 1.7 million U.S. colonies died, costing an estimated US$600 million in lost pollination income, reduced honey sales, and replacement expenses.
Biology and seasonal shifts matter. Foraging rises when temperatures top about 50°F, shortening worker lifespans. Models for the Pacific Northwest show longer autumns can push spring populations below risky thresholds.
Researchers point to high viral loads (DWV, ABPV) and suspected Varroa amitraz resistance as leading concerns. Teams like USDA-ARS and university networks are intensifying surveillance and testing to move from hypothesis to guidance.
This article will explain what happened, review the science, and outline shifting management and next steps for farmers and beekeepers. Find ongoing work on new solutions at new solutions and practical tools in this beekeeping resources guide.
Key Takeaways
- Record losses in 2024–25 drove major economic and pollination risks for U.S. agriculture.
- Biology, climate stress, parasites, and viruses interact to raise the risk of sudden collapse.
- High viral loads and possible pesticide resistance are under active investigation by USDA-ARS and partners.
- Coordinated research and field monitoring are guiding near-term management options.
- Outcomes for honey production and food supply depend on timely, science-based responses.
U.S. honey bee losses surge: what’s happening and why it matters
National data show an unprecedented die-off that wiped out roughly 1.7 million managed units between summer 2024 and spring 2025. That number represents more than 60% of commercial hives and equals about US$600 million in lost pollination income, reduced honey production, and replacement costs.
Record die-offs in 2024–2025: 1.7 million colonies lost, 60%+ of commercial hives
Project Apis M. and USDA figures report average losses near 62% from June 2024 to March 2025. Some operations described losses of 70–100% in parts of their apiaries. These levels far exceed the roughly 10–15% winter losses expected before the CCD era and the ~40% average in recent years.
Economic and agricultural stakes: pollination contracts, yields, and honey production
High mortality forced canceled or renegotiated pollination contracts and left growers short of strong hives at bloom. Shortages tightened supply for almond and other pollination-dependent crops, risking lower yields and higher contract prices.
Oscillating populations vs. sustained decline: interpreting annual colony losses
Managed numbers often oscillate as beekeepers split and rebuild hives. Yet rebounds can mask underlying stress and volatility, making it hard to tell if the system is truly recovering or slipping into a sustained decline.
Who is affected: commercial beekeepers, growers, and pollination-dependent crops
Commercial beekeepers, growers who rent hives, and regional economies feel the hit. Higher replacement costs strain working capital while reduced honey sales cut revenue. Early reports and an ongoing survey conducted increase planning uncertainty for the coming year.
“These losses reshape pollination markets and underscore why renewed research into honey bee health is urgent.”
Bee colony collapse: causes, science, and areas of uncertainty
The leading hypothesis for the 2025 spike centers on failing mite control paired with rising virus pressure. Field tests indicate widespread Varroa destructor resistance to common miticides, with amitraz suspected after long-term use.
Varroa destructor and suspected amitraz resistance: a pivotal 2025 development
USDA-ARS sampling found high DWV and ABPV loads in many severely affected hives. All tested mites showed resistance markers, raising urgent management questions.
High viral loads (DWV, ABPV) in collapsed hives: what USDA-ARS is finding
Viral amplification follows when mites spread pathogens rapidly. The pattern suggests control loss lets viruses reach levels that overwhelm hive defenses.
Poor nutrition and pesticide exposure: compounding stressors on honey bee health
Poor forage and pesticide residues can weaken immune responses. Those stressors often act together, tipping stressed hives past a threshold even if no single cause is decisive.
- WSU and USDA models: longer autumns increase foraging days and accelerate worker aging.
- Thresholds: simulations flag spring risk when adult counts fall below 5,000–9,000.
- Mitigation: indoor cold storage preserves workers and can improve spring strength.
“Coordinated diagnostics—mite resistance testing, virus screening, and nutrition assessments—are essential to guide targeted interventions.”
| Factor | Evidence | Management implication | Timeframe |
|---|---|---|---|
| Miticide resistance | Resistant mites in ARS samples | Rotate treatments; develop new tools | Near future |
| High viral loads | DWV, ABPV common in dead hives | Enhanced screening and targeted antiviral strategies | Near future |
| Climate-driven worker wear | WSU models: longer autumns → more foraging days | Consider winter strategies like cold storage; regional tactics | 2050–2100 projections |
Several important uncertainties remain. The USDA-ARS paper is under peer review, and final survey numbers are pending. Regional differences across Washington state and elsewhere mean practitioners must adapt locally.
For background on the national loss estimates and context, see this record losses analysis.
What’s being done now: mitigation, management, and research responses
This year’s response blends immediate on-farm tactics with expanded lab work to guide long-term fixes. Action focuses on conserving worker bees, slowing mite spread, and improving nutrition so hives arrive strong for bloom.
Indoor cold storage and spring strength
Cold storage from October to April can limit late-season foraging and preserve worker numbers. Models show adult counts rising from roughly 5,000–8,000 to over 15,000 after storage in many scenarios.
Keeping mites in check
Integrated Varroa management now emphasizes rotating treatments, regular resistance monitoring, and timing interventions to brood cycles. Labs report suspected amitraz loss of efficacy, so beekeepers must document treatment outcomes and try alternatives.
Queen quality and resilience
State university programs and USDA efforts prioritize breeding for longer-lived, productive queens. Better queen performance stabilizes hive growth and helps buffer food shortages.
Feeding, forage, and pesticide stewardship
Targeted supplemental feeding during bloom gaps reduces poor nutrition and supports honey production and food security. Grower collaboration on pesticide timing lowers exposure during key worker activity.
Coordination, funding, and practical steps
Project Apis M., industry coalitions, and the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Research Service centralize data and push funding for field-ready tools. Commercial beekeepers should schedule storage, keep mite sampling calendars, log treatment efficacy, and track queen metrics.
“Evidence-based management must be updated each year as surveys and research results arrive.”
Conclusion
Record losses in 2024–2025 reshaped the short-term outlook for honey bees and pollinators across U.S. agriculture. The economic hit to honey markets and pollination services shows why coordinated action matters now more than ever.
Solutions rest on shared work by beekeepers, researchers, and growers. Practical steps—indoor storage, rigorous Varroa monitoring, queen improvement, and better forage—can stabilize bee population dynamics in the near future. Continued data sharing and adaptive management will limit further colony losses while longer-term studies conclude findings on collapse disorder (collapse disorder).
Consumers and communities can help by supporting local beekeeping resources and habitat efforts. With sustained funding and collaboration, the next year need not repeat these severe losses.
