Honey Bee Colonies - Publication

Honey Bee Colonies
ISSN: 2470-993X

Released August 1, 2017, by the National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS), Agricultural Statistics Board, United States Department of
Agriculture (USDA).

January 1 Honey Bee Colonies Down Slightly for Operations with Five or More Colonies
Honey bee colonies for operations with five or more colonies in the United States on January 1, 2017 totaled
2.62 million colonies, down slightly from January 1, 2016. The number of colonies in the United States on April 1, 2017
was 2.89 million colonies. During 2016, honey bee colonies on January 1, April 1, July 1, and October 1 were 2.62
million, 2.80 million, 3.18 million, and 3.03 million colonies, respectively.
Honey bee colonies lost for operations with five or more colonies from January through March 2017, was 362 thousand
colonies, or 14 percent. The number of colonies lost during the quarter of April through June 2017 was 226 thousand
colonies, or 8 percent. During the quarter of October through December 2016, colonies lost totaled 502 thousand colonies,
or 17 percent, the highest of any quarter in 2016. The quarter in 2016 with the lowest number of colonies lost was April
through June, with 330 thousand colonies lost, or 12 percent.
Honey bee colonies added for operations with five or more colonies from January through March 2017 was
586 thousand colonies. The number of colonies added during the quarter of April through June 2017 was 653 thousand.
During the quarter of April through June 2016, 737 thousand colonies were added, the highest number of honey bee
colonies added for any quarter of 2016. The quarter of October through December 2016 added 125 thousand colonies, the
least number of honey bee colonies added for any quarter of 2016.
Honey bee colonies renovated for operations with five or more colonies from January through March 2017 was
240 thousand colonies, or 9 percent. During the quarter of April through June 2017, 806 thousand colonies, or 28 percent,
were renovated. The quarter in 2016 with the highest number of colonies renovated was April through June with
561 thousand colonies renovated, or 20 percent. The quarter in 2016 with the lowest number of colonies renovated was
October through December 2016, with 60.4 thousand or 2 percent. Renovated colonies are those that were requeened or
received new honey bees through a nuc or package.

Varroa Mites Top Colony Stressor for Operations with Five or More Colonies
Varroa mites were the number one stressor for operations with five or more colonies during all quarters of 2016. The
quarter of April through June 2016 had highest percentage of colonies reported to be affected by varroa mites at
53.4 percent. The percent of colonies reported to be affected by varroa mites during January through March 2017 and
April through June 2017 are 42.2 percent and 41.6 percent, respectively.

Colonies Lost with Colony Collapse Disorder Symptoms Down 27 Percent for Operations with Five or
More Colonies
Honey bee colonies lost with Colony Collapse Disorder symptoms on operations with five or more colonies was
84.4 thousand colonies from January through March 2017. This is a 27 percent decrease from the same quarter of 2016.
Colonies lost with Colony Collapse Disorder Symptoms were reported to meet all of the following criteria: 1) Little to no
build-up of dead bees in the hive or at the hive entrance 2) Rapid loss of adult honey bee population despite the presence
of queen, capped brood, and food reserves 3) Absence or delayed robbing of the food reserves 4) Loss not attributable to
varroa or nosema loads.

January 1 Honey Bee Colonies Down 20 percent for Operations with Less than Five Colonies
Honey bee colonies for operations with less than five colonies in the United States on January 1, 2016 totaled
40.0 thousand down 20 percent from January 1, 2015. During 2016, honey bee colonies on April 1, July 1, and October 1
were 37.0 thousand, 44.0 thousand, and 40.0 thousand, respectively.
Honey bee colonies lost for operations with less than five colonies during the quarter of January through March 2016
was 10.0 thousand colonies, the highest number of honey bee colonies loss during any quarter for 2016. The quarter in
2016 with the least number of colonies lost was April through June, with 4.10 thousand colonies.
Honey bee colonies added for operations with less than five colonies during the quarter of April through June 2016 was
12.0 thousand colonies, the highest number honey bee colonies added during any quarter of 2016. The quarter in 2016 with
the least number of colonies added was October through December, with 760 colonies.
Honey bee colonies renovated for operations with less than five colonies during the quarter of April through June 2016
was 3.40 thousand colonies, the highest number of honey bee colonies renovated during any quarter of 2016. The quarter
in 2016 with the least number of colonies renovated was October through December, with 450 colonies.

Varroa Mites Top Colony Stressor for Operations with Less than Five Colonies
During 2016, the highest reported colony stressor was varroa mites, with 17.6 percent of the colonies reported to be
affected. This is an 11 percent decrease from the previous year.

Colonies Lost with Colony Collapse Disorder Symptoms for Operations with Less than Five Colonies
Down 40 percent
Honey bee colonies lost with Colony Collapse Disorder symptoms on operations with less than five colonies was
4.20 thousand colonies during 2016, a 40 percent decrease from 2015. Colonies lost with Colony Collapse Disorder
Symptoms were reported to meet all of the following criteria: 1) Little to no build-up of dead bees in the hive or at the
hive entrance 2) Rapid loss of adult honey bee population despite the presence of queen, capped brood, and food reserves
3) Absence or delayed robbing of the food reserves 4) Loss not attributable to varroa or nosema loads.

2

Honey Bee Colonies (August 2017)
USDA, National Agricultural Statistics Service

Contents
Number of Colonies, Maximum, Lost, Percent Lost, Added, Renovated, and Percent Renovated with Five or More
Colonies – States and United States: January 1, 2016 and January-March 2016 ................................................................... 4
Number of Colonies, Maximum, Lost, Percent Lost, Added, Renovated, and Percent Renovated with Five or More
Colonies – States and United States: April 1, 2016 and April-June 2016 .............................................................................. 5
Number of Colonies, Maximum, Lost, Percent Lost, Added, Renovated, and Percent Renovated with Five or More
Colonies – States and United States: July 1, 2016 and July-September 2016 ........................................................................ 6
Number of Colonies, Maximum, Lost, Percent Lost, Added, Renovated, and Percent Renovated with Five or More
Colonies – States and United States: October 1, 2016 and October-December 2016............................................................. 7
Number of Colonies, Maximum, Lost, Percent Lost, Added, Renovated, and Percent Renovated with Five or More
Colonies – States and United States: January 1, 2017 and January-March 2017 ................................................................... 8
Number of Colonies, Maximum, Lost, Percent Lost, Added, Renovated, and Percent Renovated with Five or More
Colonies – States and United States: April 1, 2017 and April-June 2017 .............................................................................. 9
Colony Health Stressors with Five or More Colonies – States and United States: January-March 2016............................. 10
Colony Health Stressors with Five or More Colonies – States and United States: April-June 2016 .................................... 11
Colony Health Stressors with Five or More Colonies – States and United States: July-September 2016 ............................ 12
Colony Health Stressors with Five or More Colonies – States and United States: October-December 2016 ...................... 13
Colony Health Stressors with Five or More Colonies – States and United States: January-March 2017............................. 14
Colony Health Stressors with Five or More Colonies – States and United States: April-June 2017 .................................... 15
Colonies Lost with Colony Collapse Disorder Symptoms with Five or More Colonies – United States: Quarterly
January-December 2016 and 2017 ........................................................................................................................................ 16
Number of Colonies, Lost, Percent Lost, Added, Renovated, and Percent Renovated with Inventory of Less than
Five Colonies – United States: First of Quarter and Quarterly 2015 and 2016 .................................................................... 16
Colony Health Stressors with Less than Five Colonies – United States: Annual 2015 and 2016 ........................................ 17
Colonies Lost with Colony Collapse Disorder Symptoms with Less than Five Colonies – United States: Annual
2015 and 2016 ....................................................................................................................................................................... 17
Statistical Methodology ........................................................................................................................................................ 18
Terms and Definitions of Honey Bee Colony Estimates ..................................................................................................... 19
Information Contacts ............................................................................................................................................................ 20

Honey Bee Colonies (August 2017)
USDA, National Agricultural Statistics Service

3

Number of Colonies, Maximum, Lost, Percent Lost, Added, Renovated, and Percent Renovated with
Five or More Colonies – States and United States: January 1, 2016 and January-March 2016
State

January-March

January 1
number of
colonies

Maximum
colonies 1

Lost
colonies

Percent
lost 2

Added
colonies

Renovated
colonies 3

Percent
renovated 4

(number)

(number)

(number)

(percent)

(number)

(number)

(percent)

Alabama ..................
Arizona ....................
Arkansas ..................
California .................
Colorado ..................
Connecticut ..............
Florida ......................
Georgia ....................
Hawaii ......................
Idaho ........................

7,500
30,000
27,000
1,130,000
5,000
2,700
275,000
100,000
15,000
91,000

7,500
30,000
27,000
1,410,000
8,500
2,700
295,000
100,000
15,000
98,000

1,700
4,700
5,000
200,000
750
270
40,000
15,500
280
8,500

23
16
19
14
9
10
14
16
2
9

2,100
3,500
5,000
210,000
1,700
70
49,000
36,000
570
5,500

90
150
1,100
139,000
10
10
15,500
3,200
530
3,300

1
1
4
10
(Z)
(Z)
5
3
4
3

Illinois .......................
Indiana .....................
Iowa .........................
Kansas .....................
Kentucky ..................
Louisiana .................
Maine .......................
Maryland ..................
Massachusetts .........
Michigan ..................

8,500
6,500
13,000
5,000
6,500
54,000
2,200
7,500
3,000
25,000

9,500
6,500
13,000
5,000
6,500
55,000
3,700
7,500
3,000
42,000

1,400
770
2,900
1,100
1,300
11,000
170
820
370
5,000

15
12
22
22
20
20
5
11
12
12

860
30
90
1,400
390
9,500
1,200
1,200
2,300

40
100
40
2,600
10
140
80

(Z)
2
1
5
(Z)
5
(Z)

Minnesota ................
Mississippi ...............
Missouri ...................
Montana ...................
Nebraska .................
New Jersey ..............
New Mexico .............
New York .................
North Carolina ..........
North Dakota ............

36,000
21,000
10,000
16,500
11,000
6,000
6,000
31,000
18,500
89,000

38,000
50,000
10,000
65,000
20,000
6,000
6,500
33,000
24,000
137,000

5,500
7,500
1,300
900
720
1,000
1,700
4,200
2,600
8,500

14
15
13
1
4
17
26
13
11
6

6,000
48,000
5,500
24,000
510
80
1,400
970
1,100
4,600

25,000
420
20
30
600
230
-

50
4
1
2
1
-

Ohio .........................
Oklahoma ................
Oregon .....................
Pennsylvania ...........
South Carolina .........
South Dakota ...........
Tennessee ...............
Texas .......................
Utah .........................
Vermont ...................

16,500
13,500
68,000
12,500
16,500
47,000
9,000
240,000
12,000
5,500

16,500
13,500
92,000
12,500
16,500
79,000
9,000
320,000
14,500
5,500

2,900
3,300
2,900
2,900
3,500
10,500
1,700
30,000
1,900
410

18
24
3
23
21
13
19
9
13
7

760
4,800
3,800
480
3,200
1,600
180
126,000
1,400
-

50
570
1,300
170
380
70
49,000
50
-

(Z)
4
1
1
2
1
15
(Z)
-

Virginia .....................
Washington ..............
West Virginia ............
Wisconsin ................
Wyoming ..................

6,500
77,000
6,500
20,000
2,700

6,500
146,000
8,000
21,000
6,500

1,100
13,500
1,700
3,100
340

17
9
21
15
5

560
5,500
530
440

70
1,200
-

1
1
-

Other States 5 ..........

7,340

7,940

900

11

60

-

-

United States ...........

2,619,940

(X)

416,100

16

571,880

245,060

9

- Represents zero.
(X) Not applicable.
(Z) Less than half of the unit shown.
1
January 1 number of colonies plus all colonies moved into that state during the quarter.
2
Percent lost is the number of lost colonies divided by maximum colonies except for the United States, where percent lost is the number of lost
colonies divided by the January 1 number of colonies.
3
Defined as any surviving colony that was requeened or received new honey bees through nuc or package.
4
Percent renovated is the number of renovated colonies divided by maximum colonies except for the United States, where percent renovated is the
number of renovated colonies divided by the January 1 number of colonies.
5
Alaska, Delaware, Nevada, New Hampshire, and Rhode Island not published separately to avoid disclosing data for individual operations.

4

Honey Bee Colonies (August 2017)
USDA, National Agricultural Statistics Service

Number of Colonies, Maximum, Lost, Percent Lost, Added, Renovated, and Percent Renovated with
Five or More Colonies – States and United States: April 1, 2016 and April-June 2016
State

April-June

April 1
number of
colonies

Maximum
colonies 1

Lost
colonies

Percent
lost 2

(number)

(number)

(number)

(percent)

Added
colonies

Renovated
colonies 3

Percent
renovated 4

(number)

(number)

(percent)

Alabama ..................
Arizona ....................
Arkansas .................
California .................
Colorado ..................
Connecticut .............
Florida .....................
Georgia ...................
Hawaii .....................
Idaho .......................

8,000
22,000
24,000
1,110,000
9,500
2,500
240,000
108,000
13,500
60,000

8,000
23,000
24,000
1,150,000
29,000
2,500
240,000
111,000
13,500
80,000

930
3,700
3,400
108,000
1,800
100
29,000
11,000
830
6,000

12
16
14
9
6
4
12
10
6
8

1,200
14,000
12,000
240,000
9,000
390
43,000
17,500
870
19,000

690
1,600
1,600
185,000
680
60
21,000
3,600
5,500

9
7
7
16
2
2
9
3
7

Illinois ......................
Indiana ....................
Iowa .........................
Kansas ....................
Kentucky ..................
Louisiana .................
Maine ......................
Maryland ..................
Massachusetts .........
Michigan ..................

9,000
4,300
10,500
4,700
5,500
52,000
3,600
8,000
4,200
40,000

9,000
7,000
26,000
6,000
6,000
53,000
25,000
9,000
8,500
103,000

740
220
2,400
960
450
4,300
4,200
320
300
7,500

8
3
9
16
8
8
17
4
4
7

2,200
2,700
26,000
3,000
2,100
10,000
510
2,800
1,100
13,500

380
900
760
900
270
9,500
560
400
440
3,200

4
13
3
15
5
18
2
4
5
3

Minnesota ................
Mississippi ...............
Missouri ...................
Montana ..................
Nebraska .................
New Jersey ..............
New Mexico .............
New York .................
North Carolina .........
North Dakota ...........

27,000
85,000
12,000
62,000
19,500
4,200
6,500
31,000
23,000
110,000

126,000
90,000
12,500
157,000
43,000
18,000
6,500
46,000
24,000
530,000

13,000
3,700
770
7,000
6,000
1,500
1,400
4,000
1,600
27,000

10
4
6
4
14
8
22
9
7
5

24,000
9,000
1,800
25,000
8,000
1,900
2,700
13,500
10,000
23,000

4,200
61,000
730
13,500
28,000
110
100
1,500
550
95,000

3
68
6
9
65
1
2
3
2
18

Ohio .........................
Oklahoma ................
Oregon ....................
Pennsylvania ...........
South Carolina .........
South Dakota ...........
Tennessee ...............
Texas ......................
Utah .........................
Vermont ...................

14,000
12,000
77,000
11,000
12,500
51,000
8,000
340,000
14,500
5,000

16,500
13,000
132,000
14,000
13,500
182,000
8,000
350,000
25,000
6,500

1,700
310
4,300
1,300
1,300
11,000
580
36,000
4,800
20

10
2
3
9
10
6
7
10
19
(Z)

6,000
4,000
19,000
6,500
2,200
15,000
3,900
74,000
12,000
480

1,100
10,000
16,000
1,100
410
13,000
200
54,000
7,000
30

7
77
12
8
3
7
3
15
28
(Z)

Virginia ....................
Washington .............
West Virginia ...........
Wisconsin ................
Wyoming .................

6,000
91,000
7,000
18,500
6,500

6,500
143,000
7,000
78,000
27,000

230
6,000
990
5,500
2,600

4
4
14
7
10

2,200
21,000
2,600
17,500
7,500

480
11,500
160
3,600
580

7
8
2
5
2

Other States 5 ..........

7,970

15,530

1,070

7

3,270

270

2

United States ...........

2,801,470

(X)

329,820

12

736,920

561,160

20

- Represents zero.
(X) Not applicable.
(Z) Less than half of the unit shown.
1
April 1 number of colonies plus all colonies moved into that state during the quarter.
2
Percent lost is the number of lost colonies divided by maximum colonies except for the United States, where percent lost is the number of lost
colonies divided by the April 1 number of colonies.
3
Defined as any surviving colony that was requeened or received new honey bees through nuc or package.
4
Percent renovated is the number of renovated colonies divided by maximum colonies except for the United States, where percent renovated is the
number of renovated colonies divided by the April 1 number of colonies.
5
Alaska, Delaware, Nevada, New Hampshire, and Rhode Island not published separately to avoid disclosing data for individual operations.

Honey Bee Colonies (August 2017)
USDA, National Agricultural Statistics Service

5

Number of Colonies, Maximum, Lost, Percent Lost, Added, Renovated, and Percent Renovated with
Five or More Colonies – States and United States: July 1, 2016 and July-September 2016
State

July-September

July 1
number of
colonies

Maximum
colonies 1

Lost
colonies

Percent
lost 2

(number)

(number)

(number)

(percent)

Added
colonies

Renovated
colonies 3

Percent
Renovated 4

(number)

(number)

(percent)

Alabama ..................
Arizona ....................
Arkansas ..................
California .................
Colorado ..................
Connecticut ..............
Florida ......................
Georgia ....................
Hawaii ......................
Idaho ........................

8,000
30,000
32,000
740,000
33,000
3,100
200,000
102,000
13,500
79,000

8,000
32,000
32,000
820,000
37,000
3,100
220,000
103,000
13,500
131,000

1,200
6,000
1,500
82,000
6,500
270
25,000
13,000
600
13,000

15
19
5
10
18
9
11
13
4
10

440
3,200
270
33,000
1,100
890
62,000
12,500
430
1,900

50
2,600
60
78,000
740
180
14,500
2,300
820
2,800

1
8
(Z)
10
2
6
7
2
6
2

Illinois .......................
Indiana .....................
Iowa .........................
Kansas .....................
Kentucky ..................
Louisiana .................
Maine .......................
Maryland ..................
Massachusetts .........
Michigan ..................

11,000
9,500
50,000
8,000
7,500
51,000
5,500
7,000
9,500
108,000

11,000
9,500
50,000
8,000
7,500
60,000
5,500
7,000
9,500
108,000

1,300
600
5,500
2,600
1,000
7,000
420
200
530
15,000

12
6
11
33
13
12
8
3
6
14

850
450
10,500
310
900
2,600
240
400
450
11,000

310
550
2,400
190
230
2,100
140
20
40
9,500

3
6
5
2
3
4
3
(Z)
(Z)
9

Minnesota ................
Mississippi ...............
Missouri ...................
Montana ...................
Nebraska .................
New Jersey ..............
New Mexico .............
New York .................
North Carolina ..........
North Dakota ............

132,000
19,000
13,500
147,000
45,000
18,000
6,500
56,000
25,000
510,000

138,000
20,000
13,500
158,000
47,000
18,000
6,500
56,000
25,000
550,000

26,000
3,300
650
11,500
8,500
270
1,100
10,000
1,400
71,000

19
17
5
7
18
2
17
18
6
13

1,300
750
480
4,100
390
120
2,000
1,900
1,400
25,000

1,900
740
170
6,500
27,000
80
1,000
800
1,200
104,000

1
4
1
4
57
(Z)
15
1
5
19

Ohio .........................
Oklahoma ................
Oregon .....................
Pennsylvania ...........
South Carolina .........
South Dakota ...........
Tennessee ...............
Texas .......................
Utah .........................
Vermont ...................

21,000
3,700
107,000
19,000
13,000
178,000
10,000
129,000
27,000
6,500

21,000
3,700
112,000
22,000
13,500
191,000
10,000
143,000
33,000
6,500

1,600
560
7,500
1,300
920
25,000
950
12,000
3,200
400

8
15
7
6
7
13
10
8
10
6

980
30
2,900
680
990
4,200
340
12,500
1,200
170

630
30
4,300
780
50
9,500
290
810
120
50

3
1
4
4
(Z)
5
3
1
(Z)
1

Virginia .....................
Washington ..............
West Virginia ............
Wisconsin ................
Wyoming ..................

8,000
57,000
7,500
71,000
32,000

8,000
74,000
7,500
75,000
40,000

810
5,000
190
12,000
7,000

10
7
3
16
18

460
7,500
130
880
1,800

360
2,000
220
640
1,000

5
3
3
1
3

Other States 5 ..........

11,880

11,890

1,920

16

1,690

430

4

United States ...........

3,181,180

(X)

397,290

12

217,320

282,130

9

(X) Not applicable.
(Z) Less than half of the unit shown.
1
July 1 number of colonies plus all colonies moved into that state during the quarter.
2
Percent lost is the number of lost colonies divided by maximum colonies except for the United States, where percent lost is the number of lost
colonies divided by the July 1 number of colonies.
3
Defined as any surviving colony that was requeened or received new honey bees through nuc or package.
4
Percent renovated is the number of renovated colonies divided by maximum colonies except for the United States, where percent renovated is the
number of renovated colonies divided by the July 1 number of colonies.
5
Alaska, Delaware, Nevada, New Hampshire, and Rhode Island not published separately to avoid disclosing data for individual operations.

6

Honey Bee Colonies (August 2017)
USDA, National Agricultural Statistics Service

Number of Colonies, Maximum, Lost, Percent Lost, Added, Renovated, and Percent Renovated with
Five or More Colonies – States and United States: October 1, 2016 and October-December 2016
State

October-December

October 1
number of
colonies

Maximum
colonies 1

Lost
colonies

Percent
lost 2

(number)

(number)

(number)

(percent)

Added
colonies

Renovated
colonies 3

Percent
renovated 4

(number)

(number)

(percent)

Alabama ..................
Arizona ....................
Arkansas .................
California .................
Colorado ..................
Connecticut .............
Florida .....................
Georgia ...................
Hawaii .....................
Idaho .......................

7,000
29,000
28,000
770,000
30,000
3,100
255,000
96,000
13,500
121,000

7,000
31,000
28,000
1,330,000
30,000
3,100
300,000
112,000
13,500
143,000

610
6,500
2,500
205,000
4,500
240
41,000
11,000
970
15,500

9
21
9
15
15
8
14
10
7
11

50
4,600
20
40,000
2,500
31,000
12,000
60
5,000

10
3,100
10
35,000
11,500
450
840
420

(Z)
10
(Z)
3
4
(Z)
6
(Z)

Illinois ......................
Indiana ....................
Iowa .........................
Kansas ....................
Kentucky ..................
Louisiana .................
Maine ......................
Maryland ..................
Massachusetts .........
Michigan ..................

9,000
7,500
54,000
5,000
7,500
48,000
3,500
7,500
8,000
101,000

9,000
7,500
54,000
5,000
7,500
57,000
3,500
9,500
8,000
101,000

720
1,200
4,700
1,300
950
2,000
280
500
740
12,500

8
16
9
26
13
4
8
5
9
12

20
200
60
250
20
10

20
80
340
30
130

(Z)
1
1
(Z)
(Z)

Minnesota ................
Mississippi ...............
Missouri ...................
Montana ..................
Nebraska .................
New Jersey ..............
New Mexico .............
New York .................
North Carolina .........
North Dakota ...........

113,000
17,500
9,000
124,000
37,000
12,000
7,000
48,000
25,000
385,000

114,000
30,000
9,000
124,000
37,000
12,000
7,000
49,000
25,000
390,000

13,500
2,400
590
16,000
4,300
340
1,600
9,000
5,500
44,000

12
8
7
13
12
3
23
18
22
11

330
1,400
2,700
190
400
1,100
240
220
13,500

60
640
20
130
50
2,500

(Z)
7
(Z)
(Z)
(Z)
1

Ohio .........................
Oklahoma ................
Oregon ....................
Pennsylvania ...........
South Carolina .........
South Dakota ...........
Tennessee ...............
Texas ......................
Utah .........................
Vermont ...................

19,500
3,100
98,000
21,000
12,000
146,000
9,000
136,000
30,000
6,500

19,500
44,000
124,000
21,000
17,000
146,000
9,000
310,000
30,000
6,500

2,100
2,700
9,500
3,100
1,300
11,000
840
39,000
1,600
260

11
6
8
15
8
8
9
13
5
4

20
120
1,500
120
760
120
2,200
440
20

140
30
1,000
180
370
2,400
10
650
50
10

1
(Z)
1
1
2
2
(Z)
(Z)
(Z)
(Z)

Virginia ....................
Washington .............
West Virginia ...........
Wisconsin ................
Wyoming .................

7,000
65,000
7,500
59,000
25,000

7,000
97,000
7,500
59,000
27,000

730
9,000
1,000
7,500
2,200

10
9
13
13
8

230
3,100
80
10
50

10
130
60
20
-

(Z)
(Z)
1
(Z)
-

Other States 5 ..........

6,360

6,460

580

9

20

-

-

United States ...........

3,032,060

(X)

502,350

17

124,660

60,390

2

- Represents zero.
(X) Not applicable.
(Z) Less than half of the unit shown.
1
October 1 number of colonies plus all colonies moved into that state during the quarter.
2
Percent lost is the number of lost colonies divided by maximum colonies except for the United States, where percent lost is the number of lost
colonies divided by the October 1 number of colonies.
3
Defined as any surviving colony that was requeened or received new honey bees through nuc or package.
4
Percent renovated is the number of renovated colonies divided by maximum colonies except for the United States, where percent renovated is the
number of renovated colonies divided by the October 1 number of colonies.
5
Alaska, Delaware, Nevada, New Hampshire, and Rhode Island not published separately to avoid disclosing data for individual operations.

Honey Bee Colonies (August 2017)
USDA, National Agricultural Statistics Service

7

Number of Colonies, Maximum, Lost, Percent Lost, Added, Renovated, and Percent Renovated with
Five or More Colonies – States and United States: January 1, 2017 and January-March 2017
State

January-March

January 1
number of
colonies

Maximum
colonies 1

Lost
colonies

Percent
lost 2

(number)

(number)

(number)

(percent)

Added
colonies

Renovated
colonies 3

Percent
renovated 4

(number)

(number)

(percent)

Alabama ..................
Arizona ....................
Arkansas ..................
California .................
Colorado ..................
Connecticut ..............
Florida ......................
Georgia ....................
Hawaii ......................
Idaho ........................

7,000
31,000
18,000
1,150,000
9,500
3,100
260,000
123,000
13,000
95,000

7,000
32,000
20,000
1,440,000
21,000
3,100
265,000
125,000
13,000
99,000

1,600
6,000
3,500
172,000
1,100
380
30,000
14,000
190
8,500

23
19
18
12
5
12
11
11
1
9

570
2,900
430
215,000
100
100
80,000
36,000
510
2,000

730
190
92,000
110
33,000
21,000
50
280

10
1
6
4
12
17
(Z)
(Z)

Illinois .......................
Indiana .....................
Iowa .........................
Kansas .....................
Kentucky ..................
Louisiana .................
Maine .......................
Maryland ..................
Massachusetts .........
Michigan ..................

11,000
7,000
10,000
3,800
6,500
44,000
2,700
9,000
3,300
29,000

11,000
7,500
15,500
3,800
7,000
47,000
3,100
9,000
3,300
59,000

2,900
1,900
3,000
1,000
1,300
2,700
1,000
2,100
1,500
5,000

26
25
19
26
19
6
32
23
45
8

3,100
1,700
70
930
950
11,000
100
770
120
600

150
70
380
430
1,900
260
110
130

1
1
10
6
4
3
3
(Z)

Minnesota ................
Mississippi ...............
Missouri ...................
Montana ...................
Nebraska .................
New Jersey ..............
New Mexico .............
New York .................
North Carolina ..........
North Dakota ............

27,000
31,000
6,500
18,500
7,500
6,000
5,500
32,000
16,000
50,000

41,000
68,000
7,500
46,000
13,000
6,500
5,500
33,000
23,000
123,000

3,500
2,600
1,200
470
750
490
2,100
6,000
2,500
640

9
4
16
1
6
8
38
18
11
1

3,300
23,000
400
3,100
120
10
3,600
520
3,700
1,100

7,500
10
6,000
1,200
10

11
(Z)
13
5
(Z)

Ohio .........................
Oklahoma ................
Oregon .....................
Pennsylvania ...........
South Carolina .........
South Dakota ...........
Tennessee ...............
Texas .......................
Utah .........................
Vermont ...................

15,500
26,000
71,000
17,000
17,000
21,000
8,500
270,000
16,000
6,500

17,500
26,000
90,000
18,000
17,500
48,000
8,500
330,000
18,500
6,500

4,400
550
8,000
4,200
1,600
2,700
1,600
35,000
2,700
440

25
2
9
23
9
6
19
11
15
7

1,300
9,500
7,500
810
4,700
1,500
1,500
148,000
2,900
-

530
1,600
1,400
410
970
440
160
68,000
60
-

3
6
2
2
6
1
2
21
(Z)
-

Virginia .....................
Washington ..............
West Virginia ............
Wisconsin ................
Wyoming ..................

8,000
68,000
5,500
17,000
6,500

8,000
104,000
8,000
22,000
17,000

1,400
9,000
800
4,400
3,600

18
9
10
20
21

1,900
8,500
450
450
1,300

280
100
70
-

4
1
(Z)
-

Other States 5 ..........

6,190

6,490

1,540

24

130

50

1

United States ...........

2,615,590

(X)

361,850

14

586,240

239,580

9

- Represents zero.
(X) Not applicable.
(Z) Less than half of the unit shown.
1
January 1 number of colonies plus all colonies moved into that state during the quarter.
2
Percent lost is the number of lost colonies divided by maximum colonies except for the United States, where percent lost is the number of lost
colonies divided by the January 1 number of colonies.
3
Defined as any surviving colony that was requeened or received new honey bees through nuc or package.
4
Percent renovated is the number of renovated colonies divided by maximum colonies except for the United States, where percent renovated is the
number of renovated colonies divided by the January 1 number of colonies.
5
Alaska, Delaware, Nevada, New Hampshire, and Rhode Island not published separately to avoid disclosing data for individual operations.

8

Honey Bee Colonies (August 2017)
USDA, National Agricultural Statistics Service

Number of Colonies, Maximum, Lost, Percent Lost, Added, Renovated, and Percent Renovated with
Five or More Colonies – States and United States: April 1, 2017 and April-June 2017
State

April-June

April 1
number of
colonies

Maximum
colonies 1

Lost
colonies

Percent
lost 2

(number)

(number)

(number)

(percent)

Added
colonies

Renovated
colonies 3

Percent
renovated 4

(number)

(number)

(percent)

Alabama ..................
Arizona ....................
Arkansas .................
California .................
Colorado ..................
Connecticut .............
Florida .....................
Georgia ...................
Hawaii .....................
Idaho .......................

6,500
22,000
17,000
1,140,000
16,500
3,000
245,000
125,000
12,000
61,000

6,500
22,000
17,000
1,180,000
29,000
3,000
250,000
142,000
12,000
78,000

440
2,600
1,900
82,000
3,500
140
25,000
10,500
60
9,500

7
12
11
7
12
5
10
7
1
12

1,200
12,500
5,000
210,000
5,500
2,200
40,000
21,000
520
24,000

500
3,000
1,300
235,000
7,500
350
50,000
33,000
910
31,000

8
14
8
20
26
12
20
23
8
40

Illinois ......................
Indiana ....................
Iowa .........................
Kansas ....................
Kentucky ..................
Louisiana .................
Maine ......................
Maryland ..................
Massachusetts .........
Michigan ..................

12,000
7,500
12,500
4,400
6,500
56,000
2,200
8,000
1,900
55,000

12,500
11,000
23,000
4,900
7,000
56,000
40,000
9,500
8,000
79,000

1,200
1,200
2,000
380
560
2,600
910
190
130
4,600

10
11
9
8
8
5
2
2
2
6

3,600
3,000
24,000
2,500
2,900
4,600
790
3,200
1,900
22,000

1,600
510
3,900
890
600
9,000
1,400
930
490
11,500

13
5
17
18
9
16
4
10
6
15

Minnesota ................
Mississippi ...............
Missouri ...................
Montana ..................
Nebraska .................
New Jersey ..............
New Mexico .............
New York .................
North Carolina .........
North Dakota ...........

34,000
89,000
7,000
46,000
8,500
6,000
7,000
25,000
24,000
112,000

128,000
89,000
7,500
134,000
63,000
21,000
7,500
41,000
25,000
385,000

5,000
3,800
260
3,800
640
430
1,700
1,300
1,600
10,500

4
4
3
3
1
2
23
3
6
3

18,500
5,500
1,700
15,000
6,000
1,600
2,300
16,000
3,900
19,500

9,000
42,000
1,000
20,000
39,000
660
3,900
7,500
2,700
37,000

7
47
13
15
62
3
52
18
11
10

Ohio .........................
Oklahoma ................
Oregon ....................
Pennsylvania ...........
South Carolina .........
South Dakota ...........
Tennessee ...............
Texas ......................
Utah .........................
Vermont ...................

13,500
25,000
84,000
15,000
20,000
34,000
8,500
345,000
19,000
6,000

14,500
25,000
108,000
16,500
20,000
152,000
9,000
345,000
35,000
8,000

1,100
200
5,000
510
870
6,000
1,100
18,000
2,300
170

8
1
5
3
4
4
12
5
7
2

8,000
6,500
18,000
7,000
1,900
10,000
2,600
43,000
14,500
390

2,500
1,600
24,000
2,200
3,700
20,000
1,300
148,000
10,500
190

17
6
22
13
19
13
14
43
30
2

Virginia ....................
Washington .............
West Virginia ...........
Wisconsin ................
Wyoming .................

8,500
89,000
7,500
18,000
15,000

9,000
132,000
7,500
65,000
30,000

1,000
6,500
340
2,900
1,100

11
5
5
4
4

3,100
36,000
3,400
13,000
4,800

1,100
21,000
2,500
6,500
4,100

12
16
33
10
14

Other States 5 ..........

5,530

7,040

150

2

870

840

12

United States ...........

2,886,030

(X)

225,680

8

653,470

806,170

28

(X) Not applicable.
1
April 1 number of colonies plus all colonies moved into that state during the quarter.
2
Percent lost is the number of lost colonies divided by maximum colonies except for the United States, where percent lost is the number of lost
colonies divided by the April 1 number of colonies.
3
Defined as any surviving colony that was requeened or received new honey bees through nuc or package.
4
Percent renovated is the number of renovated colonies divided by maximum colonies except for the United States, where percent renovated is the
number of renovated colonies divided by the April 1 number of colonies.
5
Alaska, Delaware, Nevada, New Hampshire, and Rhode Island not published separately to avoid disclosing data for individual operations.

Honey Bee Colonies (August 2017)
USDA, National Agricultural Statistics Service

9

Colony Health Stressors with Five or More Colonies – States and United States: January-March 2016
[Percent of colonies affected by stressors anytime during the quarter. A colony may be affected by multiple stressors during the quarter]
State

Varroa
mites

Other pests
and parasites 1

Diseases 2

Pesticides

Other 3

Unknown

(percent)

(percent)

(percent)

(percent)

(percent)

(percent)

Alabama .........................
Arizona ...........................
Arkansas .........................
California ........................
Colorado .........................
Connecticut .....................
Florida .............................
Georgia ...........................
Hawaii .............................
Idaho ...............................

24.2
33.8
57.4
38.1
2.9
12.3
23.6
32.3
0.3
31.5

22.0
2.8
6.9
15.2
4.1
0.8
5.8
7.8
1.5
2.3

4.3
(Z)
9.0
0.5
0.2
0.4
2.1
2.1

8.1
7.7
0.5
13.5
0.2
4.9
21.4
0.1
5.9

2.4
6.5
1.9
8.4
2.7
7.7
1.8
3.2
0.8
5.4

11.3
7.2
8.1
4.4
0.2
1.7
1.4
3.9
(Z)
1.4

Illinois ..............................
Indiana ............................
Iowa ................................
Kansas ............................
Kentucky .........................
Louisiana ........................
Maine ..............................
Maryland .........................
Massachusetts ................
Michigan .........................

12.4
17.4
52.8
30.3
23.6
22.8
3.3
26.2
10.1
5.9

6.4
3.7
14.4
10.0
9.0
14.2
0.4
0.1
5.2
0.2

0.3
0.9
13.8
0.1
0.7
18.6
0.3
0.7
(Z)

2.6
0.3
2.7
1.1
6.3
0.4
9.5
0.5

4.6
7.2
24.0
2.4
12.5
12.4
0.8
6.7
3.1
1.3

8.6
5.5
4.8
5.4
8.4
1.9
1.4
0.7
1.1
11.3

Minnesota .......................
Mississippi ......................
Missouri ..........................
Montana ..........................
Nebraska ........................
New Jersey .....................
New Mexico ....................
New York ........................
North Carolina .................
North Dakota ...................

12.1
13.8
20.2
0.6
1.8
8.0
69.0
27.5
9.5
2.7

7.0
1.6
7.0
(Z)
0.4
1.1
0.4
5.9
2.5
-

0.2
(Z)
0.4
0.1
0.2
31.5
1.5
1.9
-

11.6
3.2
6.2
0.5
0.2
0.6
7.6
2.7
-

8.0
0.3
4.5
0.1
0.8
1.7
1.5
9.5
4.0
0.1

14.5
14.5
7.3
0.6
12.0
0.3
2.6
2.4
11.7

Ohio ................................
Oklahoma .......................
Oregon ............................
Pennsylvania ..................
South Carolina ................
South Dakota ..................
Tennessee ......................
Texas ..............................
Utah ................................
Vermont ..........................

41.6
4.9
20.4
44.8
10.7
0.2
19.7
19.4
26.2
1.3

4.3
1.2
15.0
4.3
2.3
(Z)
7.1
9.8
7.0
-

0.2
(Z)
5.3
0.3
0.6
(Z)
0.2
2.3
0.1
0.3

1.3
0.3
(Z)
3.8
2.0
3.7
9.4
0.4
-

10.2
0.9
2.4
5.5
5.1
0.5
10.1
3.7
1.6
0.5

5.3
21.0
0.3
4.6
4.8
0.3
10.9
2.5
0.5
1.7

Virginia ............................
Washington .....................
West Virginia ...................
Wisconsin .......................
Wyoming .........................

32.7
23.3
21.9
24.2
(Z)

7.3
10.5
2.9
1.6
0.4

1.3
1.1
1.1
0.2

0.4
1.7
0.6
13.4
2.5

5.0
1.9
6.9
10.8
0.8

3.8
5.1
6.5
10.4
1.3

Other States 4 .................

5.5

2.3

0.5

2.1

8.6

0.1

United States ..................

34.6

12.6

6.2

10.9

6.9

5.4

- Represents zero.
(Z) Less than half of the unit shown.
1
Tracheal mites, nosema, hive beetle, wax moths, etc.
2
Includes American and European foulbrood, chalkbrood, stonebrood, paralysis (acute and chronic), kashmir, deformed wing, sacbrood, IAPV, Lake
Sinai II, etc.
3
Includes weather, starvation, insufficient forage, queen failure, hive damage/destroyed, etc.
4
Alaska, Delaware, Nevada, New Hampshire, and Rhode Island not published separately to avoid disclosing data for individual operations.

10

Honey Bee Colonies (August 2017)
USDA, National Agricultural Statistics Service

Colony Health Stressors with Five or More Colonies – States and United States: April-June 2016
[Percent of colonies affected by stressors anytime during the quarter. A colony may be affected by multiple stressors during the quarter]
State

Varroa
mites

Other pests
and parasites 1

Diseases 2

Pesticides

Other 3

Unknown

(percent)

(percent)

(percent)

(percent)

(percent)

(percent)

Alabama .........................
Arizona ...........................
Arkansas ........................
California ........................
Colorado .........................
Connecticut ....................
Florida ............................
Georgia ..........................
Hawaii ............................
Idaho ..............................

9.6
26.8
84.9
49.7
38.7
9.3
48.2
59.3
35.6
21.2

8.2
47.5
8.5
14.1
0.8
0.6
23.3
28.4
38.1
4.8

0.3
17.2
5.5
11.2
3.3
0.5
10.0
2.0
(Z)
2.7

1.7
12.0
0.1
14.2
1.4
0.3
11.6
28.4
0.6
3.1

4.8
17.4
3.4
15.3
2.6
4.4
10.1
11.7
3.2
5.4

5.4
3.5
1.6
2.6
0.3
1.2
2.0
2.7
2.7

Illinois .............................
Indiana ...........................
Iowa ................................
Kansas ...........................
Kentucky .........................
Louisiana ........................
Maine .............................
Maryland .........................
Massachusetts ................
Michigan .........................

11.4
12.5
23.5
47.3
38.9
20.7
82.7
4.2
40.5
54.1

4.4
2.9
17.8
11.6
36.1
1.1
2.3
10.6
9.3

2.0
(Z)
18.7
2.8
1.7
4.3
2.4
0.3
1.1

3.1
2.1
0.6
8.3
28.4
0.3
31.1
2.9
10.6
16.5

4.7
2.8
6.0
3.7
16.0
1.2
2.4
3.3
2.3
11.8

2.1
4.3
5.7
1.8
3.8
0.6
27.9
0.6
11.9
1.1

Minnesota .......................
Mississippi ......................
Missouri ..........................
Montana .........................
Nebraska ........................
New Jersey .....................
New Mexico ....................
New York ........................
North Carolina ................
North Dakota ..................

20.8
12.3
17.2
30.3
6.1
11.9
59.1
20.4
51.8
16.2

6.0
2.3
1.6
7.1
0.1
0.9
0.3
3.1
23.5
3.7

6.5
1.2
0.7
4.5
1.0
0.2
12.1
0.9
4.7
2.1

18.2
2.7
0.1
3.9
3.8
(Z)
2.5
11.7
33.8
1.1

8.6
1.2
1.6
6.9
1.1
0.2
8.2
4.1
8.3
3.6

7.6
0.1
1.2
0.2
3.5
0.3
3.8
41.7
0.2

Ohio ................................
Oklahoma .......................
Oregon ...........................
Pennsylvania ..................
South Carolina ................
South Dakota ..................
Tennessee ......................
Texas .............................
Utah ................................
Vermont ..........................

10.6
51.8
52.7
18.7
51.3
32.4
40.9
26.1
23.0
2.6

2.2
2.8
14.5
3.9
36.6
6.6
22.7
9.0
0.1
0.1

0.6
0.2
9.9
2.4
1.0
1.7
0.1
7.5
1.8
0.1

18.3
1.2
2.6
3.6
35.8
5.1
0.4
2.4
7.3
-

2.9
0.6
16.7
4.6
14.3
15.4
9.1
7.4
3.4
0.3

1.4
0.4
6.0
0.9
1.3
0.1
2.6
3.7
0.8
0.1

Virginia ...........................
Washington ....................
West Virginia ..................
Wisconsin .......................
Wyoming ........................

23.1
40.9
20.1
23.4
7.1

4.2
11.4
0.8
3.7
2.6

6.8
3.3
4.2
12.8
1.2

6.0
3.1
12.6
0.6

7.3
11.1
14.7
14.9
2.5

2.9
0.6
0.7
10.5
0.8

Other States 4 .................

7.6

0.2

-

0.8

0.6

5.4

United States ..................

53.4

16.3

9.5

12.4

12.3

4.1

- Represents zero.
(Z) Less than half of the unit shown.
1
Tracheal mites, nosema, hive beetle, wax moths, etc.
2
Includes American and European foulbrood, chalkbrood, stonebrood, paralysis (acute and chronic), kashmir, deformed wing, sacbrood, IAPV, Lake
Sinai II, etc.
3
Includes weather, starvation, insufficient forage, queen failure, hive damage/destroyed, etc.
4
Alaska, Delaware, Nevada, New Hampshire, and Rhode Island not published separately to avoid disclosing data for individual operations.

Honey Bee Colonies (August 2017)
USDA, National Agricultural Statistics Service

11

Colony Health Stressors with Five or More Colonies – States and United States: July-September 2016
[Percent of colonies affected by stressors anytime during the quarter. A colony may be affected by multiple stressors during the quarter]
State

Varroa
mites

Other pests
and parasites 1

Diseases 2

Pesticides

Other 3

Unknown

(percent)

(percent)

(percent)

(percent)

(percent)

(percent)

Alabama .........................
Arizona ...........................
Arkansas .........................
California ........................
Colorado .........................
Connecticut .....................
Florida .............................
Georgia ...........................
Hawaii .............................
Idaho ...............................

11.7
41.7
80.7
42.2
49.3
18.8
45.1
30.7
67.8
25.3

42.0
1.0
9.0
17.8
22.4
1.6
23.4
16.4
75.3
4.7

(Z)
0.9
0.4
8.5
16.8
2.7
2.4
0.1
4.5

3.8
13.5
7.9
18.8
24.6
0.2
9.9
12.1
0.8
7.6

3.2
13.4
2.7
10.4
10.6
5.0
8.5
7.6
6.0

13.8
8.9
0.3
6.9
0.1
0.8
1.8
4.5
3.3

Illinois ..............................
Indiana ............................
Iowa ................................
Kansas ............................
Kentucky .........................
Louisiana ........................
Maine ..............................
Maryland .........................
Massachusetts ................
Michigan .........................

17.4
50.4
32.6
42.8
42.3
39.5
9.3
10.8
14.1
64.1

7.9
12.4
3.4
25.5
25.7
26.1
0.1
4.8
8.7
25.1

0.7
1.2
0.8
14.1
0.9
(Z)
0.2
0.1
6.8
0.3

4.3
0.6
16.7
29.1
11.5
1.6
0.7
0.1
9.1

2.9
2.5
2.4
4.5
7.4
9.6
0.6
0.6
3.4
6.5

1.6
1.2
5.6
2.6
4.5
0.7
1.6
7.9
2.7

Minnesota .......................
Mississippi ......................
Missouri ..........................
Montana ..........................
Nebraska ........................
New Jersey .....................
New Mexico ....................
New York ........................
North Carolina .................
North Dakota ...................

47.2
27.5
13.3
41.9
20.4
20.2
59.5
37.4
27.8
38.0

14.6
3.5
7.7
8.8
1.6
7.1
55.4
9.0
13.4
11.8

6.2
1.6
1.0
7.0
0.1
1.2
55.2
5.5
0.1
6.3

22.4
1.8
0.1
6.9
10.2
8.5
24.1
5.2
2.9
12.9

17.8
5.0
3.1
6.1
1.6
1.3
1.7
24.7
13.4
9.9

8.9
4.7
0.7
1.4
0.1
0.3
0.7
2.6
3.0
3.1

Ohio ................................
Oklahoma .......................
Oregon ............................
Pennsylvania ..................
South Carolina ................
South Dakota ..................
Tennessee ......................
Texas ..............................
Utah ................................
Vermont ..........................

60.6
7.5
52.9
27.3
20.4
48.8
22.5
47.2
32.1
5.6

10.6
6.5
18.5
7.7
18.8
19.5
23.1
11.4
20.2
8.0

2.3
0.3
12.5
1.6
0.1
14.2
1.3
1.7
0.6
1.7

2.9
0.7
9.6
4.3
2.6
22.7
2.4
31.4
21.8
-

3.6
1.4
5.1
2.8
2.6
4.6
6.2
3.7
2.5
2.4

3.2
21.8
1.5
1.2
1.9
2.8
2.0
4.1
1.7
0.8

Virginia ............................
Washington .....................
West Virginia ...................
Wisconsin .......................
Wyoming .........................

39.1
65.2
41.5
31.5
38.6

24.1
1.4
7.1
13.6
3.1

1.1
0.9
3.6
10.8
0.5

2.3
19.1
0.1
15.8
2.6

5.3
4.3
8.1
5.1
3.4

3.6
0.1
0.4
11.1
0.3

Other States 4 .................

7.8

1.6

0.5

-

2.3

9.8

United States ..................

46.1

15.6

6.7

15.1

9.3

4.5

- Represents zero.
(Z) Less than half of the unit shown.
1
Tracheal mites, nosema, hive beetle, wax moths, etc.
2
Includes American and European foulbrood, chalkbrood, stonebrood, paralysis (acute and chronic), kashmir, deformed wing, sacbrood, IAPV, Lake
Sinai II, etc.
3
Includes weather, starvation, insufficient forage, queen failure, hive damage/destroyed, etc.
4
Alaska, Delaware, Nevada, New Hampshire, and Rhode Island not published separately to avoid disclosing data for individual operations.

12

Honey Bee Colonies (August 2017)
USDA, National Agricultural Statistics Service

Colony Health Stressors with Five or More Colonies – States and United States:
October-December 2016
[Percent of colonies affected by stressors anytime during the quarter. A colony may be affected by multiple stressors during the quarter]
State

Varroa
mites

Other pests
and parasites 1

Diseases 2

Pesticides

Other 3

Unknown

(percent)

(percent)

(percent)

(percent)

(percent)

(percent)

Alabama .........................
Arizona ...........................
Arkansas ........................
California ........................
Colorado .........................
Connecticut ....................
Florida ............................
Georgia ..........................
Hawaii ............................
Idaho ..............................

12.3
98.8
21.1
41.9
32.4
14.7
30.9
43.6
39.9
31.9

9.9
15.5
4.8
13.7
1.3
6.6
27.1
8.6
40.8
0.8

0.2
2.3
(Z)
8.0
0.1
1.1
7.7
3.7
4.8

2.4
6.5
1.3
9.1
3.1
1.0
17.0
7.6
0.1
0.2

6.7
4.3
1.1
9.6
13.0
5.8
13.6
4.1
0.2
4.2

3.3
3.2
3.3
3.5
0.1
3.2
6.5
2.5
0.1
3.0

Illinois .............................
Indiana ...........................
Iowa ................................
Kansas ...........................
Kentucky .........................
Louisiana ........................
Maine .............................
Maryland .........................
Massachusetts ................
Michigan .........................

27.8
28.2
18.7
29.2
48.2
2.9
10.7
23.8
6.1
23.9

11.7
9.6
9.8
8.3
22.3
1.0
0.8
8.3
2.6
1.5

1.2
0.2
8.9
0.3
3.3
1.0
0.1
4.5
0.4
0.1

5.6
1.4
9.0
3.1
3.0
0.1
4.6
0.4
2.7

3.9
1.0
11.4
5.1
10.3
0.7
5.8
5.8
0.7
4.0

4.8
3.8
6.3
1.4
5.7
1.2
0.1
0.6
4.2
0.6

Minnesota .......................
Mississippi ......................
Missouri ..........................
Montana .........................
Nebraska ........................
New Jersey .....................
New Mexico ....................
New York ........................
North Carolina ................
North Dakota ..................

27.5
21.9
16.1
59.1
10.5
28.6
46.2
27.8
24.0
23.5

7.7
6.0
12.6
39.4
1.4
11.3
0.3
2.2
7.7
7.9

3.1
0.1
0.2
32.9
0.2
0.4
7.2
3.6
1.8
1.5

17.6
(Z)
13.7
1.2
1.9
12.5
0.4

5.0
2.1
1.5
33.3
0.4
3.4
0.8
2.2
12.5
2.6

8.9
2.8
0.7
33.1
1.5
8.6
0.3
2.1
1.3
2.2

Ohio ................................
Oklahoma .......................
Oregon ...........................
Pennsylvania ..................
South Carolina ................
South Dakota ..................
Tennessee ......................
Texas .............................
Utah ................................
Vermont ..........................

42.0
4.9
25.5
18.7
29.0
48.9
19.9
33.1
26.4
44.5

18.1
0.5
2.8
2.6
27.1
5.3
21.6
17.5
0.1
41.3

0.8
(Z)
13.0
1.0
23.3
0.3
3.2
0.2
41.2

4.2
0.1
2.8
2.8
24.6
6.0
1.1
3.6
0.9
41.0

11.2
0.1
2.6
4.9
25.9
1.0
2.2
2.8
0.7
0.4

10.9
0.7
1.3
3.1
1.9
0.3
3.1
1.4
0.3
-

Virginia ...........................
Washington ....................
West Virginia ..................
Wisconsin .......................
Wyoming ........................

31.4
21.4
23.8
69.3
32.2

19.9
4.6
2.3
12.2
1.6

2.0
3.7
1.1
10.0
3.1

9.1
1.1
10.6
5.2

1.8
4.5
4.3
10.6
1.1

5.1
0.3
2.8
46.2
-

Other States 4 .................

24.1

9.3

9.3

9.6

2.3

1.4

United States ..................

46.6

16.9

8.3

9.4

10.1

6.4

- Represents zero.
(Z) Less than half of the unit shown.
1
Tracheal mites, nosema, hive beetle, wax moths, etc.
2
Includes American and European foulbrood, chalkbrood, stonebrood, paralysis (acute and chronic), kashmir, deformed wing, sacbrood, IAPV, Lake
Sinai II, etc.
3
Includes weather, starvation, insufficient forage, queen failure, hive damage/destroyed, etc.
4
Alaska, Delaware, Nevada, New Hampshire, and Rhode Island not published separately to avoid disclosing data for individual operations.

Honey Bee Colonies (August 2017)
USDA, National Agricultural Statistics Service

13

Colony Health Stressors with Five or More Colonies – States and United States: January-March 2017
[Percent of colonies affected by stressors anytime during the quarter. A colony may be affected by multiple stressors during the quarter]
State

Varroa
mites

Other pests
and parasites 1

Diseases 2

Pesticides

Other 3

Unknown

(percent)

(percent)

(percent)

(percent)

(percent)

(percent)

Alabama .........................
Arizona ...........................
Arkansas .........................
California ........................
Colorado .........................
Connecticut .....................
Florida .............................
Georgia ...........................
Hawaii .............................
Idaho ...............................

15.3
35.6
23.7
38.0
17.0
51.5
37.6
35.3
1.2
74.2

10.9
2.1
13.8
12.8
(Z)
1.5
14.8
7.0
2.1
42.3

0.2
3.8
(Z)
7.6
(Z)
1.5
0.2
0.2
42.3

3.6
1.7
0.3
9.2
0.9
14.2
2.6
21.2

7.5
6.5
3.6
6.6
2.6
6.1
6.2
4.4
0.1
1.7

10.4
2.1
0.6
6.3
0.4
5.6
17.9
1.8
0.1
0.4

Illinois ..............................
Indiana ............................
Iowa ................................
Kansas ............................
Kentucky .........................
Louisiana ........................
Maine ..............................
Maryland .........................
Massachusetts ................
Michigan .........................

24.3
15.8
33.6
47.1
31.9
20.5
23.9
11.3
32.0
7.9

11.8
8.0
8.3
2.9
11.5
8.5
20.9
3.3
5.6
0.3

0.6
5.2
8.4
0.4
0.1
30.5
1.0
2.9
(Z)

4.2
4.1
12.0
3.6
3.8
2.2
8.1
1.0
4.5
1.9

10.2
10.4
11.9
16.4
16.0
5.2
26.3
11.9
10.5
1.1

7.9
7.1
11.7
14.3
7.5
2.3
4.3
5.2
3.9

Minnesota .......................
Mississippi ......................
Missouri ..........................
Montana ..........................
Nebraska ........................
New Jersey .....................
New Mexico ....................
New York ........................
North Carolina .................
North Dakota ...................

2.1
41.7
16.2
34.0
14.9
16.3
93.9
20.4
34.7
0.8

0.4
35.3
15.2
13.6
0.3
0.7
9.4
17.4
-

0.1
(Z)
0.5
(Z)
0.4
0.3
87.4
9.8
0.2
-

1.0
0.1
2.6
2.3
0.1
4.4
1.5
-

8.8
0.5
5.4
5.6
2.2
0.8
2.0
13.2
7.2
0.2

5.8
1.4
5.3
0.1
1.2
0.6
10.9
3.9
0.1

Ohio ................................
Oklahoma .......................
Oregon ............................
Pennsylvania ..................
South Carolina ................
South Dakota ..................
Tennessee ......................
Texas ..............................
Utah ................................
Vermont ..........................

25.8
11.9
28.7
21.0
12.6
2.9
28.6
36.2
38.7
6.0

11.6
1.0
8.5
2.4
5.3
12.6
22.5
(Z)
0.7

0.6
(Z)
10.1
0.8
0.4
0.9
2.0
0.1
2.1

0.1
0.1
9.1
2.9
1.1
(Z)
2.4
5.1
0.2

5.2
0.5
15.4
3.6
2.7
0.2
8.1
3.5
2.0
0.9

16.5
0.3
8.5
7.3
1.8
0.3
7.0
3.6
0.3
2.1

Virginia ............................
Washington .....................
West Virginia ...................
Wisconsin .......................
Wyoming .........................

21.4
6.8
15.8
19.0
0.2

12.8
0.1
1.0
1.9
-

2.8
(Z)
0.2
1.1
0.2

3.2
(Z)
2.0
-

7.4
8.1
11.9
4.0
0.6

8.4
4.4
1.3
10.5
(Z)

Other States 4 .................

3.4

0.8

6.6

2.6

1.8

2.5

United States ..................

42.2

15.6

7.1

8.9

7.2

7.4

- Represents zero.
(Z) Less than half of the unit shown.
1
Tracheal mites, nosema, hive beetle, wax moths, etc.
2
Includes American and European foulbrood, chalkbrood, stonebrood, paralysis (acute and chronic), kashmir, deformed wing, sacbrood, IAPV, Lake
Sinai II, etc.
3
Includes weather, starvation, insufficient forage, queen failure, hive damage/destroyed, etc.
4
Alaska, Delaware, Nevada, New Hampshire, and Rhode Island not published separately to avoid disclosing data for individual operations.

14

Honey Bee Colonies (August 2017)
USDA, National Agricultural Statistics Service

Colony Health Stressors with Five or More Colonies – States and United States: April-June 2017
[Percent of colonies affected by stressors anytime during the quarter. A colony may be affected by multiple stressors during the quarter]
State

Varroa
mites

Other pests
and parasites 1

Diseases 2

Pesticides

Other 3

Unknown

(percent)

(percent)

(percent)

(percent)

(percent)

(percent)

Alabama .........................
Arizona ...........................
Arkansas ........................
California ........................
Colorado .........................
Connecticut ....................
Florida ............................
Georgia ..........................
Hawaii ............................
Idaho ..............................

17.9
57.8
24.5
36.1
31.6
9.7
36.3
33.0
89.5
31.2

13.6
15.6
12.2
7.5
0.9
0.2
14.3
5.6
3.5
7.4

19.4
2.4
2.9
5.3
6.1
1.0
(Z)
3.9

4.2
12.2
4.9
12.4
3.2
0.5
9.0
6.7
8.2

9.4
20.1
3.4
4.7
4.7
2.0
6.4
6.3
0.4
7.7

5.3
0.7
3.1
3.0
0.1
0.7
18.6
2.8
4.7

Illinois .............................
Indiana ...........................
Iowa ................................
Kansas ...........................
Kentucky .........................
Louisiana ........................
Maine .............................
Maryland .........................
Massachusetts ................
Michigan .........................

11.0
5.9
39.4
19.7
28.5
26.2
3.6
3.3
13.8
24.4

4.2
2.3
27.7
9.6
12.9
3.5
3.6
6.9
11.4
9.8

0.7
0.1
7.6
0.7
1.1
3.4
0.7
11.8
0.2

2.9
32.1
26.7
22.2
5.0
2.1
3.6
0.2
9.9
1.7

5.5
8.6
8.2
1.8
4.8
1.6
1.6
2.0
0.4
1.0

1.4
1.3
0.9
7.8
2.1
0.7
14.2
1.0
1.6
0.6

Minnesota .......................
Mississippi ......................
Missouri ..........................
Montana .........................
Nebraska ........................
New Jersey .....................
New Mexico ....................
New York ........................
North Carolina ................
North Dakota ..................

21.4
14.4
13.8
24.3
73.8
24.1
88.4
21.7
23.4
27.9

4.7
0.6
8.7
3.8
67.2
5.4
0.6
2.2
5.5
3.6

2.4
3.0
4.2
0.7
2.3
72.9
2.2
2.3
2.8

13.3
1.3
1.0
3.3
66.6
1.9
2.1
0.8
5.4

6.6
2.9
5.1
4.4
8.9
0.3
35.6
9.1
5.1
3.0

2.2
0.5
1.8
0.6
0.5
0.7
0.6
0.1
1.5
0.4

Ohio ................................
Oklahoma .......................
Oregon ...........................
Pennsylvania ..................
South Carolina ................
South Dakota ..................
Tennessee ......................
Texas .............................
Utah ................................
Vermont ..........................

45.6
23.0
32.7
13.9
23.9
20.9
47.4
28.8
32.2
3.3

6.4
1.6
9.0
1.0
21.3
1.4
24.9
16.6
1.1
0.3

6.2
11.1
10.2
0.8
14.7
1.3
1.0
1.5
0.2
0.3

10.5
0.3
3.6
1.4
17.9
9.7
3.1
12.5
0.1
-

16.8
7.6
14.8
2.4
4.1
6.2
10.4
2.9
10.9
0.2

3.0
0.2
9.6
1.6
0.3
3.6
3.9
1.1
(Z)
0.5

Virginia ...........................
Washington ....................
West Virginia ..................
Wisconsin .......................
Wyoming ........................

19.8
19.5
11.5
13.7
37.8

19.1
4.7
1.5
1.6
3.3

1.0
3.6
1.7
1.7
11.6

5.3
6.7
0.4
2.1
2.6

1.9
3.1
3.6
2.5
7.4

4.8
0.4
1.6
0.3
2.1

Other States 4 .................

6.8

0.4

0.3

-

4.0

0.6

United States ..................

41.6

11.7

4.3

12.9

6.6

4.4

- Represents zero.
(Z) Less than half of the unit shown.
1
Tracheal mites, nosema, hive beetle, wax moths, etc.
2
Includes American and European foulbrood, chalkbrood, stonebrood, paralysis (acute and chronic), kashmir, deformed wing, sacbrood, IAPV, Lake
Sinai II, etc.
3
Includes weather, starvation, insufficient forage, queen failure, hive damage/destroyed, etc.
4
Alaska, Delaware, Nevada, New Hampshire, and Rhode Island not published separately to avoid disclosing data for individual operations.

Honey Bee Colonies (August 2017)
USDA, National Agricultural Statistics Service

15

Colonies Lost with Colony Collapse Disorder Symptoms with Five or More Colonies – United States:
Quarterly January-December 2016 and 2017
[Loss reported that met all of the following criteria: 1) Little to no build-up of dead bees in the hive or at the hive entrance 2) Rapid loss of adult honey
bee population despite the presence of queen, capped brood, and food reserves 3) Absence or delayed robbing of the food reserves 4) Loss not
attributable to varroa or nosema loads. Blank cells indicate estimation period has not yet begun]
Year

2016 ...................................................................
2017 ...................................................................

JanuaryMarch

AprilJune

(number)

(number)

115,950
84,430

JulySeptember

OctoberDecember

(number)

(number)

47,780
34,750

92,610

129,290

Number of Colonies, Lost, Percent Lost, Added, Renovated, and Percent Renovated with Inventory of
Less than Five Colonies – United States: First of Quarter and Quarterly 2015 and 2016
Quarter

Colonies on first
of the quarter 1

Lost
colonies

Percent
lost 2

Added
colonies

Renovated
colonies 3

Percent
renovated 4

(number)

(number)

(percent)

(number)

(number)

(percent)

2015
January-March .................
April-June .........................
July-September ................
October-December ...........

50,000
43,000
52,000
49,000

15,500
5,500
6,500
7,000

31
13
13
14

8,000
15,000
2,800
860

3,200
3,800
1,400
470

6
9
3
1

2016
January-March .................
April-June .........................
July-September ................
October-December ...........

40,000
37,000
44,000
40,000

10,000
4,100
6,000
6,000

25
11
14
15

6,500
12,000
1,800
760

2,700
3,400
1,100
450

7
9
3
1

1

Number of colonies on January 1, April 1, July 1, and October 1.
Percent lost is the number of lost colonies divided by the first of quarter number of colonies.
3
Defined as any surviving colony that was requeened or received new honey bees through nuc or package.
4
Percent renovated is the number of renovated colonies divided by the first of quarter number of colonies.
2

16

Honey Bee Colonies (August 2017)
USDA, National Agricultural Statistics Service

Colony Health Stressors with Less than Five Colonies – United States: Annual 2015 and 2016
[Percent of colonies affected by stressors anytime during the year. A colony may be affected by multiple stressors during the year]
Year

Varroa
mites

Other pests
and parasites 1

Diseases 2

Pesticides

Other 3

Unknown

(percent)

(percent)

(percent)

(percent)

(percent)

(percent)

2015 .......................................
2016 .......................................

19.8
17.6

12.5
13.4

2.2
2.2

4.9
4.1

15.5
10.4

20.8
16.1

1

Tracheal mites, nosema, hive beetle, wax moths, etc.
Includes American and European foulbrood, chalkbrood, stonebrood, paralysis (acute and chronic), kashmir, deformed wing, sacbrood, IAPV, Lake
Sinai II, etc.
3
Includes weather, starvation, insufficient forage, queen failure, hive damage/destroyed, etc.
2

Colonies Lost with Colony Collapse Disorder Symptoms with Less than Five Colonies – United States:
Annual 2015 and 2016
[Loss reported that met all of the following criteria: 1) Little to no build-up of dead bees in the hive or at the hive entrance 2) Rapid loss of adult honey
bee population despite the presence of queen, capped brood, and food reserves 3) Absence or delayed robbing of the food reserves 4) Loss not
attributable to varroa or nosema loads]
Item

Colonies lost ................................................................

Honey Bee Colonies (August 2017)
USDA, National Agricultural Statistics Service

2015

2016

(number)

(number)
7,000

4,200

17

Statistical Methodology
Survey Procedures: Data for operations with honey bee colonies are collected from a stratified sample of operations that
responded as having honey bees on the Bee and Honey Inquiry and from the NASS list frame. For operations with five or
more colonies, data was collected on a quarterly basis; operations with less than five colonies were collected with one,
annual survey. NASS Regional Field Offices maintain a list of all known operations with honey bees and use known
sources of producers to update their lists. All operations are mailed a questionnaire and given adequate time to respond by
mail or electronic data reporting (EDR). Those that do not respond by mail or EDR are telephoned or possibly enumerated
in person.
Estimation Procedures: Estimates were prepared by the Agricultural Statistics Board after reviewing recommendations
and analysis submitted by each Regional Field Office. All data were analyzed for unusual values. Data from each
operation were compared to their own past operating profile and to trends from similar operations. Data for missing
operations were estimated based on similar operations or historical data. National and State survey data were reviewed for
reasonableness with each other and estimates from the previous quarters using a balance sheet.
Revision Policy: The previous year’s estimates are subject to revision when current year’s estimates are made. Revisions
are the result of late reports or corrected data. Estimates will also be reviewed after data from the 5-year Census of
Agriculture are available. No revisions will be made after that date.
Reliability: Since all operations with honey bees are not included in the sample, survey estimates are subject to sampling
variability. Survey results are also subject to non-sampling errors such as omissions, duplication, and mistakes in
reporting, recording, and processing the data. While these errors cannot be measured directly, they are minimized through
strict quality controls in the data collection process and a careful review of all reported data for consistency and
reasonableness.

18

Honey Bee Colonies (August 2017)
USDA, National Agricultural Statistics Service

Terms and Definitions of Honey Bee Colony Estimates
Added colonies: A new or replacement, surviving colony that was either created or purchased whole by an operation.
Colony: A hive containing a queen honey bee and attendant worker bees and/or drone bees.
Colony Collapse Disorder (CCD) criteria: Colonies reported as being lost due to CCD must have fully met four criteria:
1) Little to no build-up of dead bees in the hive or at the hive entrance 2) Rapid loss of adult honey bee population despite
the presence of queen, capped brood, and food reserves 3) Absence or delayed robbing of the food reserves 4) Loss not
attributable to varroa or nosema loads. Colonies lost due to CCD were collected on a quarterly basis for operations with
five or more colonies. Colonies lost due to CCD on operations with less than five colonies were collected annually and for
the year as a whole.
Lost colony: A completely failed colony, loss of most workers, and possibly the queen. Colony is no longer viable.
Sometimes referred to as a dead out.
Maximum colonies: Refers to the sum of colonies in a state on the first of the quarter plus all those moved into the state
during that period. Maximum colonies is considered the base number from which a data user can do further analysis. It
does not include the colonies that were added, lost, or renovated in the state. Colonies are counted in every state they were
in during the quarter; therefore, a national level maximum number of colonies cannot be calculated due to duplication.
Nuc: A smaller sized hive box with reduced numbers of bees and brood, usually containing a queen; used for expansion of
the apiary operation or renovating an existing colony.
Package: A shipping container with several pounds of honey bees that may or may not include a queen; used for
expansion of the apiary operation or renovating an existing colony.
Percent lost: The state-level percentage of colonies lost is the number of colonies lost in that state divided by the
maximum colonies for that state. The national level percentage of colonies lost is the total number of all colonies lost in
the United States divided by the number of colonies on the first of the quarter.
Percent renovated: The state-level percentage of colonies renovated is the number of colonies renovated in that state
divided by the maximum colonies for that state. The national level percentage of colonies renovated is the total number of
all colonies renovated in the United States divided by the number of colonies on the first of the quarter.
Renovated colony: An existing colony that was requeened or received a nuc or package.
Stressors: State level colony health stressors for operations with five or more colonies are the percent of the maximum
colonies reported to be affected, by quarter. The national level colony stressors is the summed number for the United
States divided by the number of colonies on the first of the quarter. The health percentages for operations with less than
five colonies are the percent of colonies reported to be affected during the entire year divided by the maximum number of
colonies for all purposes reported to be on operations with less than five colonies, collected from the Bee and Honey
Inquiry.

Honey Bee Colonies (August 2017)
USDA, National Agricultural Statistics Service

19

Information Contacts
Listed below are the commodity specialists in the Livestock Branch of the National Agricultural Statistics Service to
contact for additional information. E-mail inquiries may be sent to [email protected]
Vacant, Chief, Livestock Branch .................................................................................................................... (202) 720-3570
Bruce Boess, Head, Poultry and Specialty Commodities Section ................................................................... (202) 720-4447
Aaron Cosgrove – Egg Products, Poultry Slaughter, Turkey Hatchery, Turkeys Raised.......................... (202) 690-3237
Alissa Cowell-Mytar – Cold Storage ........................................................................................................ (202) 720-4751
Brenda Hill – Catfish Production, Trout Production ................................................................................ (202) 720-6147
Tom Kruchten – Census of Aquaculture .................................................................................................. (202) 690-4870
Kim Linonis – Layers, Eggs ..................................................................................................................... (202) 690-8632
Joshua O’Rear – Cost of Pollination, Honey, Honey Bee Colonies .......................................................... (202) 690-3676
Miste Salmon – Broiler Hatchery, Chicken Hatchery, Mink .................................................................... (202) 720-3244

Access to NASS Reports
For your convenience, you may access NASS reports and products the following ways:
 All reports are available electronically, at no cost, on the NASS web site: www.nass.usda.gov
 Both national and state specific reports are available via a free e-mail subscription. To set-up this free
subscription, visit www.nass.usda.gov and click on “National” or “State” in upper right corner above “search”
box to create an account and select the reports you would like to receive.
For more information on NASS surveys and reports, call the NASS Agricultural Statistics Hotline at (800) 727-9540,
7:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. ET, or e-mail: [email protected].

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) prohibits discrimination against its customers, employees, and
applicants for employment on the basis of race, color, national origin, age, disability, sex, gender identity,
religion, reprisal, and where applicable, political beliefs, marital status, familial or parental status, sexual
orientation, or all or part of an individual's income is derived from any public assistance program, or protected
genetic information in employment or in any program or activity conducted or funded by the Department. (Not
all prohibited bases will apply to all programs and/or employment activities.)
If you wish to file a Civil Rights program complaint of discrimination, complete the USDA Program
Discrimination Complaint Form (PDF), found online at http://www.ascr.usda.gov/complaint_filing_cust.html,
or at any USDA office, or call (866) 632-9992 to request the form. You may also write a letter containing all of
the information requested in the form. Send your completed complaint form or letter to us by mail at U.S.
Department of Agriculture, Director, Office of Adjudication, 1400 Independence Avenue, S.W., Washington,
D.C. 20250-9410, by fax (202) 690-7442 or email at [email protected].