Honeybee Crisis in North America

Western honey bees ( Apis mellifera ) have been domesticated for their honey, wax, and other products for at least 9000 years, starting in the Middle East. European colonists brought honey bees to North America, starting in the 17th century. Honey bee colonies did extremely well in North America until the mid-1980s, when their populations started to decline. This marked decrease coincided with the accidental introduction of two parasitic mites: the tracheal mite Acarapis and the external mite Varroa . Among the other important factors in the decline are increased exposure to insecticides, herbicides, and fungicides, loss of habitat, and the cross-country transportation of colonies for crop pollination. Honey bee colonies did extremely well in North America until the mid-1980s, when their populations started to decline. This marked decrease coincided with the accidental introduction of two parasitic mites: the tracheal mite Acarapis and the external mite Varroa . Among the other important factors in the decline are increased exposure to insecticides, herbicides, and fungicides, loss of habitat, and the cross-country transportation of colonies for crop pollination.