Hackenberg Apiary, Pennsylvania – 75-80% Honey Bee Loss in 2007. What Happens If Colony Collapse Disorder Returns?

June 28, 2007  Lewisburg, Pennsylvania - The Apiary Inspectors of America reported last week that the still-puzzling phenomenon of disappearing honey bees that scientists call "Colony Collapse Disorder" has been reported in 35 states, 5 Canadian provinces, a dozen European countries, China, Taiwan, Guatemala and Brazil. And today I learned from the Apiary Inspectors of America President, Jerry Hayes, who has been in Russia the past three weeks, that Ukraine honey bee keepers have reported massive disappearances through March of this year as well. The Apiary Inspectors estimate that a quarter of American beekeeping operations in the United States lost more than 50% of their colonies between September 2006 and March 2007, and that some beekeepers lost 90%.