Are Honey Bees Endangered?

Endangered Bees

First, we must consider that media attention is not always exactly on point. There are thousands of different species of bees in the world. They are not all the same and do not face the same challenges.

With a word like “danger” in the middle, we can safely assume that “endangered” is something to be approached with caution. It implies that there is a problem – and this is certainly true for many insects.

In general conversation, animals and plants (or insects) that are considered endangered are at risk of extinction. In other words, their kind might eventually die out and no longer exist on Earth.

In the United States, the Endangered Species Act of 1973 was established to protect plants and wildlife at risk of extinction. The program works to protect threatened and endangered species and the habitats they depend on.

Several types of bees are listed, including some species of Hawaiian yellow-faced bees and the rusty patched bumble bee. But honey bees are not on the endangered species list and never have been.

Plight of the Honey Bee

Even though honey bees are not endangered, that does not mean that they are not facing serious challenges. Honey bee colonies have experienced troubling losses in recent years.

This is one reason we hear so much about declining bee populations. But, losing managed honey bee colonies is not the same thing as a species being in danger of extinction.

Honey bees are managed by beekeepers throughout much of the world. When colonies die, beekeepers can often replace them by purchasing new colonies, making splits or raising new queens.

However, this does not mean that high colony losses are unimportant. Replacing lost colonies costs beekeepers time and money, and healthy honey bee colonies play an important role in agricultural pollination.

Not native to North America, German black honey bees were brought over by early colonists. The hives provided honey, beeswax and pollination of vegetable gardens for increased crop yields.

Beekeepers have always faced challenges, and having colonies die is not uncommon. Some losses over Winter are generally expected in most regions.

Colony Collapse Disorder Frenzy

But, in the years just before and after 2006 – the beekeeping industry faced a strange wave of losses. In this situation the majority of worker bees in the hive were suddenly gone. 

This phenomenon became known as Colony collapse disorder (CCD). The event continued for the next 5-6 years and the biggest problem is that no one really knows exactly why it happened. 

Everything has been blamed for this decline of the colonies. From pesticides to cell phone towers and even UFOs but, no reliable research has been able to verify a single cause.

What CCD did do was put the plight of the honey bee on the public radar.

While beekeepers still experience serious colony losses, not every dead or failed colony is a case of CCD.

Today, honey bees continue to face challenges from pests, diseases, poor nutrition and other environmental stresses.

Native Bees vs Honey Bees

Not all bees are honey bees. In fact, there are thousands of different bee species in the world, and many of them are native to the United States.

Unlike our managed honey bee colonies, most native bees live solitary lives. They do not live in large colonies with thousands of workers and generally do not produce honey for human use.

This difference is important when we talk about declining bee populations. Managed honey bee colonies can be replaced or increased by beekeepers. Wild populations of native bees do not have that same advantage.

Some Bees Are at Greater Risk

While honey bees are not endangered, this does not mean that all bee species are doing well. Some native bee populations have experienced serious declines.

The rusty patched bumble bee is one example. Once common across much of the eastern and midwestern United States, it was officially listed as endangered in 2017.

Several species of Hawaiian yellow-faced bees are also protected under the Endangered Species Act.

These examples show why it is important to distinguish between concerns about honey bee colony losses and the risk of extinction faced by some individual bee species.

Is Beekeeping Conservation?