Last winter, nearly 31.1 percent of the nation’s honey bee colonies were wiped out, or about 800,000 colonies in total. Depending on the beekeeper and the area, losses could range from a modest 15 percent to an astronomical 75 percent -- a phenomenon known as “colony collapse disorder.” Honeybees are the chief pollinators for the U.S. agricultural
Honeybee Collapse Linked To Pesticides Despite Industry Denial, Studies Show
The economic impact of honey bees exceeds $40 billion per annum — not including the revenue drawn from actual honey sales.