More than 40% of U.S. honeybee colonies died in past 12 months: USDA

More than 40% of U.S. honeybee colonies died in a 12-month period ending in April, extending a troubling trend that has scientists scrambling for a solution and professional beekeepers struggling to stay in business.

The Collapse Of The Honeybee Industry Could Cost Hundreds Of Billions Of Dollars

Honeybees don’t just produce honey: the hard-working insect is also fundamental to the world’s food supply.

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The value of insect pollinators on world agricultural production, which accounts for their role in producing better quality and quantity of harvests, was estimated at $208 billion in 2005.

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But the downward spiral of honeybee populations — both wild and captive — has put all of all of that at risk.