Texas bee decline. New filings, studies and numbers. Every item links to its source.
USDA count for operations with 5+ colonies. Started the quarter at 330,000; peak 380,000 after about 50,000 hives were moved into Texas. NASS loss rate 8% is figured against the peak; against the starting count it is 9.1%. Added = new or replacement colonies made by splitting or bought. Renovated = requeened or given a package or nuc.
Percent of Texas colonies affected, as reported by beekeepers to USDA (a colony can have more than one): varroa mites 11.2%, other pests and parasites 7%, diseases 0.8%, pesticides 4.3%, other 3%, unknown 0.7%.
Percent of Texas colonies affected, as reported by beekeepers to USDA (a colony can have more than one): varroa mites 17%, other pests and parasites 8%, diseases 7%, pesticides 6.8%, other 2%, unknown 4.8%.
USDA count for operations with 5+ colonies. Started the quarter at 225,000; peak 335,000 after about 110,000 hives were moved into Texas. NASS loss rate 11% is figured against the peak; against the starting count it is 16.9%. Added = new or replacement colonies made by splitting or bought. Renovated = requeened or given a package or nuc.
USDA count for operations with 5+ colonies. Started the quarter at 162,000; peak 300,000 after about 138,000 hives were moved into Texas. NASS loss rate 8% is figured against the peak; against the starting count it is 15.4%. Added = new or replacement colonies made by splitting or bought. Renovated = requeened or given a package or nuc.
Percent of Texas colonies affected, as reported by beekeepers to USDA (a colony can have more than one): varroa mites 18.9%, other pests and parasites 2.5%, diseases 0.5%, pesticides 7.4%, other 3.5%, unknown 0.7%.
Percent of Texas colonies affected, as reported by beekeepers to USDA (a colony can have more than one): varroa mites 27%, other pests and parasites 14%, diseases 4.2%, pesticides 10.3%, other 5.3%, unknown 5.3%.
State-by-state colony counts, losses, additions and stressors, including Texas. Open the release for the figures.
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USDA count for operations with 5+ colonies. Started the quarter at 101,000; peak 190,000 after about 89,000 hives were moved into Texas. NASS loss rate 9% is figured against the peak; against the starting count it is 16.8%. Added = new or replacement colonies made by splitting or bought. Renovated = requeened or given a package or nuc.
USDA count for operations with 5+ colonies. Started the quarter at 88,000; peak 107,000 after about 19,000 hives were moved into Texas. NASS loss rate 7% is figured against the peak; against the starting count it is 8%. Added = new or replacement colonies made by splitting or bought. Renovated = requeened or given a package or nuc.
USDA count for operations with 5+ colonies. Started the quarter at 290,000; peak 300,000 after about 10,000 hives were moved into Texas. NASS loss rate 13% is figured against the peak; against the starting count it is 13.1%. Added = new or replacement colonies made by splitting or bought. Renovated = requeened or given a package or nuc.
USDA count for operations with 5+ colonies. Started the quarter at 205,000; peak 290,000 after about 85,000 hives were moved into Texas. NASS loss rate 10% is figured against the peak; against the starting count it is 13.7%. Added = new or replacement colonies made by splitting or bought. Renovated = requeened or given a package or nuc.
NASS Honey Bee Colonies report (operations with five or more colonies). Jan-Mar 2025: 267,260 colonies lost (10%). Apr-Jun 2025: 292,630 lost (10%). The report carries state-by-state tables including Texas.
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