Bee deaths strike blow to honey industry

Winter die-off devastates South Dakota colonies, beekeepers

Due to a massive die-off of bees over the winter, South Dakota beekeepers are keeping a close eye on their hives as they place them in bee yards this spring. (Photo courtesy of Adee Honey)

As temperatures warm, trucks loaded with bees travel across South Dakota as the insects head to their summer homes.

Beekeepers place the boxes filled with bees and honey supers in shelter belts, along creeks and in pastures. Enticed by blooms from lilac bushes, alfalfa, plum trees and dandelions, the tiny livestock head out in the cool mornings to gather nectar to make honey and transfer pollen.

In no other industry would the massive die-off of 40 percent to 70 percent of animals receive so little attention. Scientists estimate that approximately 80 percent of all flowering plants on Earth rely on pollinators like bees for reproduction. Without bees, many plant species would struggle to survive, leading to a significant decline in biodiversity.

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