Losses of Honey Bee Colonies across the World

Dear Colleagues,

Honey bees are the most important pollinators of food crops across the world, as well as pollinating wild plants. As honey bee health and survival are so essential for pollination and the ecosystem, losses of honey bee colonies cause concern. Widespread and well-publicised losses of honey bees in winter 2006/2007, characterised as Colony Collapse Disorder, triggered greatly increased research into colony losses but also raised levels of awareness of honey bees and the environment. Concerns about the environment, ecology, biodiversity and sustainability, and associated publicity about the plight of honey bees have led to many new beekeepers becoming active. Therefore, the study of colony losses generally, and monitoring of levels of colony losses, has become an ongoing core part of honey bee research, for example, through the COLOSS research association, the SOLATINA network in Latin America, and in numerous other research efforts across the world.

For this Special Issue of Insects, relevant articles may provide an overview of colony loss rates in a particular country or group of countries, investigate patterns of colony loss, assess risk factors and stressors of honey bees, including environmental issues, discuss management practices to reduce losses, or control of pests and diseases, address beekeepers’ concerns for their bees, or study losses/survival of feral bees, for example. However, these topics are not exhaustive, and contributed papers are invited on any areas relevant to honey bee colony losses, whether winter losses or annual losses.

Dr. Alison Gray
Guest Editor

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