One Fifth Of UK Honeybee Colonies Died Over Course Of Past Winter - Guardian

[hatrack]

British honeybees have been devastated by bad weather, stress and disease, with more than one in five colonies thought to have been killed off over the winter, according to the government and the British Beekeepers' Association.

Annual colony loss figures have doubled in the past four years, from just over 6% in 2003 to nearly 12% in 2007. With 10% of colonies inspected so far this year, losses are running at over 21%, approaching the decline in the US and parts of continental Europe last year.

Tim Lovett, chair of the beekeepers' association, said: "The rate of loss is important - if it climbs to 25%-30% then we are in serious trouble; if it were to go up to 60%, then we will be out of beekeeping in just a few years."

The food and farming minister, Lord Rooker, has said that without emergency measures the honeybee is likely to disappear from Britain, threatening the £165m-a-year fruit industry.

EDIT

http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/2008/may/09/wildlife.endangeredspecies

[Purveyor]

1. Our crabapple trees are in full bloom and I'm pleased to report there is

a wonderful buzz in the yard from the hundreds of bees they have attracted.

Doesn't seem to be a bee problem around this mid-michigan area.

[defendandprotect]

2. Thank you -- saw this article two days ago and didn't post it 'cause . .

I thought it would be a dupe ---

Yeah -- more and more serious ---