Total Number of Colonies Represented by State

This section presents data on the total number of colonies that beekeepers in each U.S. state went into winter 2024 with. This dataset reflects a wide range of beekeepers, from small-scale hobbyists to large-scale commercial operations, providing insights into the scale of beekeeping across different regions.

Beekeeping activity varies greatly from state to state. Factors like climate, nectar sources, and beekeeping regulations influence colony numbers. States with warmer climates and longer foraging seasons often support larger beekeeping operations, whereas northern states tend to have fewer colonies but face more significant overwintering challenges.

Colony Losses by State

This chart displays the total number of colonies lost by state after that same winter. This data provides valuable insights into regional colony survival rates and highlights areas experiencing the highest losses.

Several factors contribute to colony losses, including:

• Varroa mite infestations: Poor mite management remains the leading cause of colony collapse.
• Weather-related stress: Extreme cold, late frosts, and unexpected temperature swings impact survival.
• Nutritional deficiencies: Lack of diverse forage or inadequate feeding weakens colonies.
• Pesticide exposure: Beekeepers in agricultural-heavy states often report higher colony losses due to pesticide drift.
• Queen failure: Poor genetics, inbreeding, or improperly mated queens contribute to hive decline.

Florida Outlier Data

One significant outlier in this dataset is Florida. The majority of colonies represented in the state come from a single large-scale beekeeper who reported starting with 720 colonies but losing 700 of them. This disproportionally skews Florida’s numbers. While we have kept this data in the set for transparency, it's important to interpret the results with this context in mind.

Contribute to the Research!

This dataset is updated in real time as more beekeepers contribute their colony loss data. If you're a beekeeper, you can help improve the accuracy of this research by submitting your data here! The more participation we get, the more valuable and representative these insights become.